Colorful Low-emissivity Paints for Space Heating and Cooling Energy Savings

Researchers have developed a new type of colorful low-emissivity paints designed to enhance energy savings in buildings by providing a bilayer coating that balances infrared reflectance and visual appeal. These innovative paints are engineered to reflect infrared wavelengths, significantly reducing heat exchange with the external environment. By reflecting mid-infrared wavelengths, the paint minimizes both heat gain and loss, while its high near-infrared reflectance helps mitigate solar heat gain during warmer weather.

The application of these paints on building exteriors offers an aesthetically pleasing appearance akin to conventional paints but with the added benefit of improving the thermal insulation of enclosed spaces. This dual functionality not only enhances the comfort of indoor environments but also reduces the energy consumption required for heating and cooling, promoting carbon neutrality. For example, in a typical midrise apartment building, the use of this paint technology can lead to a significant reduction in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning energy consumption, achieving savings of up to 27.24 MJ/m2/year.

These paints also demonstrate excellent properties such as hydrophobicity, durability, color fastness, and cleanability, making them a versatile solution suitable for various applications beyond building exteriors, such as in transportation and storage. The overall benefits of using this paint include a comprehensive year-round energy-saving solution, reduced environmental impact, and the potential to contribute significantly to global energy efficiency goals.