The solar reflectance index, or SRI, is a measurement to determine a surface’s ability to reject solar heat. Solar reflectance is the amount of solar energy or UV rays that is reflected away from a surface, back into the atmosphere. The higher the solar reflectance is of a coating, the less heat the surface absorbs, and in the case of a home, it means a cooler indoor ambient air temperature.
The SRI uses a scale of 0-100 with 0 being standard black and 100 standard white. Absorbent materials have lower numbers while reflective materials have higher numbers. Exterior substrates stay cool in the sun by minimizing solar absorption and maximizing thermal emittance. This technology offers numerous benefits, including increased savings on electricity bills, and reduced maintenance and replacement expenses. AmCoat’s Director of Products and Applications, Mike Moore, said SRI was originally designed to help consumers choose the most energy-efficient building materials.