rooftop Solarisation

Energy needs encroach on summer family gatherings

MULTAN:

For generations, rooftops remained a cherished part of family life, particularly in Multan, where the fierce summer heat sent families upstairs at dusk to welcome the cooling breeze, gather under the fading light and in many homes, surrender to sleep beneath the vast, star-studded sky.

But that cherished summer ritual is now quietly giving way to a new rooftop reality, as gleaming rows of solar panels increasingly spread across residential buildings, turning once-open family spaces into sources of power.

What was once an open space for family gatherings, children' s play and sleeping during hot nights is now being used by many households to generate electricity. In several residential areas, large portions of rooftops are covered with rows of solar panels, mounting structures and related equipment.

For many families, the decision to install solar systems is primarily linked to rising electricity costs and the desire to generate their own power. However, the growing use of solar energy has also changed the way residents use and view their rooftops.

People used to see the rooftop mainly as an open family space. Now they also see it as an opportunity to generate electricity, a solar system installer, Muhammad Asif, said.

He said homeowners were increasingly planning the placement of solar panels carefully to make maximum use of available rooftop space while keeping some portion open for household activities.

For families that traditionally slept on rooftops during summer, the change has been particularly noticeable. With solar systems helping households run air conditioners and other appliances during the day, some residents said they were relying less on rooftops at night.

A government employee, Antique Chaudhary, said members of his family had reduced or stopped sleeping on the roof because much of the available space was now occupied by solar panels.

He said the daytime use of air conditioning also helped keep rooms cool, reducing the need to move upstairs after sunset.

The difference is also being felt by older residents who remember when the rooftop was considered a natural extension of the home.

During hot summer nights, families used to carry charpoys and bedding upstairs after sunset. Children played around while elders sat and talked late into the night, said a local NGO worker, Rana Arif.

He said spending time on the rooftop was once part of normal summer life for many families. Today, the same rooftops often look very different.

Solar panels, metal mounting structures, wiring and other equipment have become permanent features of many homes. Some residents are also cautious about using areas close to the panels for sleeping or recreational activities.

Yet, for most homeowners, solar energy offers a practical benefit that outweighs the loss of open rooftop space. The ability to generate electricity from sunlight has encouraged families to make a different calculation about how their rooftops should be used.

Muhammad Asif said some households had adapted by leaving a portion open or creating sitting areas beneath the panels.

In this way, the rooftop is not completely disappearing from family life; its purpose is changing, he explained.

The shift reflects changing priorities among urban households. A generation ago, rooftops were valued mainly for open space, ventilation and family activities. Today, they also have economic value as locations for electricity generation.

For Multan, where summers are long and sunlight is abundant, rooftops offer readily available space for solar installations. The trend is visible in both newly constructed houses and older homes, where residents are modifying existing rooftops to accommodate solar systems.

The change has created a challenge for the families of balancing the economic benefits of solar power with the traditional uses of their rooftops.

While some households have made electricity generation their priority, others are retaining small open areas for sitting, relaxing and spending summer evenings together.

The transformation is increasingly visible, with rooftops that once came alive after sunset with charpoys, family conversations and children's games now spending much of the day generating electricity.

The city's solar transition is therefore changing not only how homes consume power but also how families use one of the most familiar spaces in their homes.