This past week an article was released by ScienceDaily about how engineers from Purdue University have developed a new extremely white paint made for coating buildings that could potentially lower their heat intake from the sun. In doing so, these buildings coated in paint would no longer require air conditioning to keep cool and would reduce the amount of energy they use. This new paint is both whiter and contains properties that can keep the surface of buildings at a lower temperature than paints previously used. Xiulin Ruan, an engineering professor working at Purdue stated, "If you were to use this paint to cover a roof area of about 1,000 square feet, we estimate that you could get a cooling power of 10 kilowatts. That's more powerful than the central air conditioners used by most houses." This new technology has the potential to vastly lower health risks, energy use, and costs applied to central air conditioning and electricity.
Today, close to 6% of all electricity used annually in the United States goes towards air conditioning. Consequently, nearly 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere because of our reliance on AC. The work of Purdue University’s engineers will allow for us to reduce this damage because their paint is said to reflect around 98.1% of the sun’s light. The engineers exhibited how this super-white paint has the ability to keep buildings 19o Fahrenheit cooler by using thermocouples that accurately measure surface temperature. The paint is said to be just as effective in the winter months because of its strong reflective properties. Americans are currently spending upwards of 29 billion dollars annually on air conditioning, so this new technology has the potential to cut costs for homeowners and major corporations.
Air conditioning is also harmful to human health. Studies have shown that people who spend long periods of time in AC controlled spaces have developed respiratory issues. Air conditioners can also worsen symptoms of asthma and allergies when units are not properly maintained. Furthermore, Purdue University's new paint has the opportunity to lower health risks by doing away with AC units. The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization has filed patent applications for this paint formulation, so soon we may be seeing the benefits of their studies.
“Air Conditioning.” Energy.gov, www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-cooling-systems/air-conditioning#:~:text=Three%2Dquarters%20of%20all%20homes,about%20%2429%20billion%20to%20homeowners.
DoctorNDTV. “8 Side Effects of AC (Air Conditioner): We Should Watch Out For.” Doctor.ndtv.com, NDTV Doctor, 1 June 2018, doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy/side-effects-of-air-conditioning-ac-we-should-watch-out-for-1860074.
Kuta, Sarah. “This Ultra-White Paint May Someday Replace Air Conditioning.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 21 Apr. 2021, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/ultra-white-paint-may-someday-replace-air-conditioning-180977560/.
“The Whitest Paint Is Here -- and It's the Coolest. Literally.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 15 Apr. 2021, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210415141834.htm.
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