Whitest Ever Paint
In recent positive news found on the Guardian[1] website, the whitest ever paint has been produced which could be used to cool buildings. Lowering the temperature of buildings with white paint could potentially reduce the reliance on air conditioning which has been shown to use a tenth of UK electricity[2] and could therefore help tackle climate change.
Figure 1: White paint can reduce temperatures of buildings and help tackle climate change. [5]
Previous implementations have achieved 80-90% of reflected sunlight however still absorb UV light. White paint has been used previously in Ahmedabad India and New York City[3,4] to cool city buildings.
The whitest ever paint reflects 98% of sunlight and radiates infrared heat such that surfaces are cooled by 4.5c. The new paint uses barium sulphate as a pigment, to achieve this temperature fall, which does not absorb UV light. Enhanced reflection of solar energy is a cornerstone of many proposed geoengineering solutions for climate change.
Researchers claim that the paint will reflect sunlight diffusely; therefore, significant glint and glare effects may not be a concern. Pager Power’s latest glint and glare guidance is in its third edition.
About Pager Power
Pager Power undertakes technical assessments for developers of renewable energy projects and tall buildings. For more information about what we do, please get in touch.
References
[1]https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/15/whitest-ever-paint-could-help-cool-heating-earth-study-shows
[2]https://www.cibsejournal.com/news/a-tenth-of-uk-electricity-used-for-air-conditioning/
[3]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48395221
[4]https://e360.yale.edu/features/urban-heat-can-white-roofs-help-cool-the-worlds-warming-cities
[5] Alex Azabache (May 2017) from Pexels.com. Last accessed April 2021. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/santorini-greece-3264723/
