Nanopaint application in residential buildings: A study of the effect of cool paint on cooling energy demand

Abstract

Applying a cool paint to a roof can reduce the amount of heat entering a building, resulting in energy savings in summer cooling loads. This chapter evaluates the effect of using nanopaints with reflective properties on roofs to assess their impact on building thermal performance and cooling energy demand in an area with a temperate continental climate. The experimental test results show that replacing a roof with conventional technology with a roof covered with a cool paint can achieve a reduction in roof temperature of 18°C on the external side and 5°C on the internal side. This, in turn, can lead to a reduction in indoor air temperature of 3°C. These findings have a direct impact on the energy requirements of homes. Simulation modelling has shown that a cool roof can reduce energy demand by over 20% during heat waves and 28% during standard summer periods.