MATERIALS: Energy-Saving Wall Coatings - Posted 6/12/07
New TEX-COTE® SUPER-COTE™ COOL WALL™ coatings from Textured Coatings of America Inc. have been shown to reduce air-conditioning demand by nearly 22%, according to tests by the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
New TEX-COTE® SUPER-COTE™ COOL WALL™ coatings from Textured Coatings of America Inc. have been shown to reduce air-conditioning demand by nearly 22%, according to tests by the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The tests found that the exterior coating's heat reflective finish reduced exterior wall temperatures by as much as 40°F when compared to traditional paints and coatings. More important, the tests showed the coatings also lowered interior temperatures in both CBS and wood-frame homes. The most extensive DOE tests were conducted at the Oak Ridge test site in Tennessee, with additional tests conducted at actual homes in Jacksonville, FL, and Phoenix, AZ. The tests demonstrated that the coating could lower the costs of cooling a typical 1,100-square-foot ranch-style home by as much as 21.9%.
The coatings take advantage of the same heat reflective technology used by the military to reduce the heat signature of planes and other vehicles. Since the increase in reflectivity occurs primarily in the infrared spectrum, it is invisible to the naked eye. While the coating colors might look the same as a traditional finish, they are, on average, approximately 100% more reflective than the conventional technologies.
“A dark-colored home absorbs as much as 90% of the solar radiation that strikes it, and even white walls can absorb 70% of the solar radiation that strikes them,” said Jay Haines, president and chief executive officer of Textured Coatings of America Inc. “By reflecting this infrared radiation rather than absorbing it, the COOL WALL™ exterior coatings dramatically reduce the load on a home’s air-conditioning system.”
In addition to energy savings, the DOE tests showed that infrared reflective coatings are significantly more fade resistant, even in darker colors. The coatings also can reduce stress or “building fatigue” by minimizing the expansion and contraction of the home's exterior due to temperature fluctuations. Another benefit is that the reflective finishes can help reduce the "heat island" effect, which raises ambient temperatures in some urban areas and causes even more energy consumption.
The coatings are 10 times thicker on average than ordinary paint. They are available in more than 500 heat reflective colors and can be applied to virtually any type of surface including stucco, wood, masonry and fiber cement.
For more information, call 800.454.0340 or visit www.texcote.com.
New TEX-COTE® SUPER-COTE™ COOL WALL™ coatings from Textured Coatings of America Inc. have been shown to reduce air-conditioning demand by nearly 22%, according to tests by the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The tests found that the exterior coating's heat reflective finish reduced exterior wall temperatures by as much as 40°F when compared to traditional paints and coatings. More important, the tests showed the coatings also lowered interior temperatures in both CBS and wood-frame homes. The most extensive DOE tests were conducted at the Oak Ridge test site in Tennessee, with additional tests conducted at actual homes in Jacksonville, FL, and Phoenix, AZ. The tests demonstrated that the coating could lower the costs of cooling a typical 1,100-square-foot ranch-style home by as much as 21.9%.
The coatings take advantage of the same heat reflective technology used by the military to reduce the heat signature of planes and other vehicles. Since the increase in reflectivity occurs primarily in the infrared spectrum, it is invisible to the naked eye. While the coating colors might look the same as a traditional finish, they are, on average, approximately 100% more reflective than the conventional technologies.
“A dark-colored home absorbs as much as 90% of the solar radiation that strikes it, and even white walls can absorb 70% of the solar radiation that strikes them,” said Jay Haines, president and chief executive officer of Textured Coatings of America Inc. “By reflecting this infrared radiation rather than absorbing it, the COOL WALL™ exterior coatings dramatically reduce the load on a home’s air-conditioning system.”
In addition to energy savings, the DOE tests showed that infrared reflective coatings are significantly more fade resistant, even in darker colors. The coatings also can reduce stress or “building fatigue” by minimizing the expansion and contraction of the home's exterior due to temperature fluctuations. Another benefit is that the reflective finishes can help reduce the "heat island" effect, which raises ambient temperatures in some urban areas and causes even more energy consumption.
The coatings are 10 times thicker on average than ordinary paint. They are available in more than 500 heat reflective colors and can be applied to virtually any type of surface including stucco, wood, masonry and fiber cement.
For more information, call 800.454.0340 or visit www.texcote.com.
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