In many parts of the country, air conditioning is a significant energy use and cost in the summer. Painting your house a lighter color can reduce cooling costs by reflecting solar energy away so the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard. What if we could also get your house to sweat, just like people do when they get hot?
Scientists in Singapore have developed a paint that absorbs water vapor from the air when cool and then releases it when it gets hot. That evaporation process cools the painted surface, thereby reducing the cooling load. This process even works in humid climates, like Singapore. The paint also reflects about 90% of the solar radiation received and stays white for years longer than other paints. The bottom line is a reduction in cooling costs of between 30 and 40 percent, without any electrical or mechanical energy use.
So, maybe we should get our houses and buildings to sweat in the summer, just like its occupants. – Steve Terry, DTC HVAC & Refrigeration Instructor
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