One of the latest innovations in roofing could soon be sweeping both the commercial and residential markets. A new “whitest” white paint that coats the top of roofs could eliminate the need for air conditioning altogether.
The chemical compound barium sulfate and its varying particle sizes helped create the brightest white paint to ever exist.
To learn more about the benefits of this exciting new innovation from a roofing contractor in Tampa, read on.
1. Lower Costs for Building Owners
The newly developed “whitest” paint has many attractive features for home and building owners. While the new paint reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation, this is a significant improvement from the former whitest paint with its 95.5 percent reflection. The paint also emits infrared heat.
With such high reflection levels, building owners could save big bucks on energy costs. On a roughly 1,000 square foot roof, this paint can produce a cooling power of 10 kilowatts. On average, a home air conditioner will use 3,000 to 5,000 watts for nine hours of cooling.
As the white paint is more powerful than many air conditioners in cooling the surface of the roof, there will be less need to run air conditioners for hours on end. This could produce a major financial benefit, especially for building owners in sunny Tampa, FL.
2. Reduce Carbon Footprint
Studies show that buildings generate nearly 40 percent of global CO2 emissions year after year. If you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint, this paint provides another benefit for you.
The “whitest” paint can significantly cool surfaces to a temperature that’s lower than any of the other surfaces around it. In fact, the paint absorbs less heat from the sun than it emits.
Simply put, less energy required to cool your building means a reduced impact on the environment. This is a differentiating factor for your business, residential space, or other commercial building.
3. Usable for Hot and Cool Climates
While those of us in Florida may significantly benefit from this innovation, so can those in cooler climates. Whether painting over shingles or metal roofs, the paint can cool down the environment and reduce global warming impacts.
For example, painting over a roof in Florida can lower costs and carbon footprint, while painting over a roof in Alaska can cool the temperature and help prevent melting glaciers. With research about this paint dating back to the 1970s, commercial roofing contractors and building owners alike can feel confident about this innovative technology.
