Insulating paints can save energy and lower air conditioning bills while protecting walls against weather-related damage.
Insulating wall coatings do cost more than traditional masonry paint; however, their advantages could outweigh their costs in the long run. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of insulating paint.
It reflects the sun’s rays
When exposed to direct sunlight, surfaces that reflect its light can keep their surroundings cooler by reflecting it into space, decreasing energy usage and thus air conditioning needs. Researchers from Purdue University have developed an ultra-white paint which reflects 98.1 percent of sunlight to keep surfaces below their surroundings temperature by using barium sulfate particles with various sizes allowing greater scattering spectrally scattering for greater wavelength reflections.
All objects radiate energy in both visible and infrared spectrums, with solar radiation dominating in terms of visible wavelengths but also emitting heat at longer wavelengths that warm buildings. Thermal paints reflect these wavelengths to reduce energy transfer. Radiant barriers alone do not result in significant energy efficiency improvements – in order to maximize savings an R-value insulation R&A barrier and airtight envelope are necessary.
It reduces heat transfer
Thermal insulation paint may seem like an unlikely solution, but it provides an inexpensive and convenient alternative to traditional cavity wall insulation. It works through its use of microscopic hollow ceramic spheres which reduce heat transfer speed – either added during production of standard paints, or sold powdered form and mixed with existing ones to create insulation effects.
Insulating paint’s effectiveness is determined by its thickness (L), its combined thermal conductivity value of the materials that make up its composition, and its cross-sectional area. Insulating paints can effectively reflect solar radiation while blocking heat penetration during summer and leaving buildings during winter, thus decreasing air conditioning costs.
A study published in Energy and Buildings by Azemati et al. reported a 17% reduction in energy costs during winter for buildings painted with insulating paint; however, closer scrutiny reveals several questionable assumptions in their research.
It’s easy to apply
Thermal paint is an innovative material that can save up to 40% in heating costs. Easy and quick to apply with regular roller, it requires no special skills for application and covers irregularities on surfaces or hide cracks and other flaws in walls with ease. Plus it resists water penetration which prevents mold growth as well as condensation on walls and ceilings!
Based on the same materials that NASA used to cover their space shuttle, this coating system is now being applied everywhere from oil tanks in the Middle East to metal shipping containers, railways in Japan and even homes here in America. Easy and affordable applications ensure long-term protection without impacting appearances of your home.
ISONEM thermal paint features a special composition reinforced with ceramic micro-spheres that provides insulation and waterproofing, reflecting sunlight back onto its target and insulates against heat losses within interior spaces. Furthermore, its reflective nature also helps reflect UV radiation away from surfaces while decreasing interior heating losses while protecting structures against condensation and mould growth. Overall it makes ISONEM an extremely cost-effective alternative to traditional mineral wool insulation solutions.
It’s affordable
Thermal paint is a cost-effective solution to protecting walls against heat loss, protecting pipes against corrosion, and keeping you cool all year round. Plus it’s mold-, antimicrobial- and fireproof!
Under controlled tests conducted by researchers, barium sulfate-based paint was found to keep surfaces 8 degrees cooler on sunny days than commercial white paints due to reflecting visible light, infrared wavelengths and ultraviolet rays that can heat objects up.
Research team is still in the early stages of exploring this coating’s long-term durability and cost, but have estimated that it could be significantly less than its commercial equivalent. They’ve also modeled how covering buildings, sidewalks and vacant land with this paint could save up to 1 percent of America’s air conditioning energy use, helping reduce carbon emissions thus helping slow global warming.