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Ultra-white paint could reduce the need for air conditioning
Engadget ^ | September 19th, 2021 | Jon Fingas

Posted on 09/19/2021 5:33:05 PM PDT by American Number 181269513

White houses are often boring, but they might just save the planet. As USA Today reports, Purdue University researchers have developed an ultra-white paint (it just earned a Guinness World Record) that reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation while outputting infrared heat. As this leaves the surface cooler than the environment (regular paint warms the surface), it could effectively replace air conditioning in some cases — it produces a cooling power of 10kW for a 1,000sq. ft. roof, or more than a typical house AC unit.

There are existing paints made to reflect heat, but they reflect no more than 90 percent of sunlight and don't cool surfaces. The team didn't have much breathing room, either — an even whiter paint might have compromised it.

The trick was to use a high ratio of barium sulfate, a compound you often see in cosmetics and photo paper, in varying particle sizes. The wider range of sizes helps scatter more of the light spectrum and thus reflect more sunlight.

It's not clear how close this extremely white paint is to your local store, but the researchers are fully bent on commercializing their work. They've teamed with a company to mass-produce and sell the paint, and have already filed patents. If it lives up to the billing, though, it could play an important role in fighting climate change. It could reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning in some homes, particularly in warm regions with ample sunlight. That could reduce emissions and power consumption, and might save you some money on hot summer days.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: airconditioning; bariumsulfate; bs; chat; chatforum; doesnotwork; fakenews; whitepaint; whitesupremacy
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To: American Number 181269513
Jon Fingas




41 posted on 09/19/2021 6:25:13 PM PDT by rollo tomasi
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To: ealgeone

A $300 dehumidifier takes care of the humidity for a 1600 sf townhouse in our case.


42 posted on 09/19/2021 6:27:20 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
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To: Olog-hai

Blood has been used as dye for thousands of years.

Oxblood leather is literally leather that has been dyed with blood.


43 posted on 09/19/2021 6:27:49 PM PDT by Brookhaven (The dystopian future is now!)
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To: WLusvardi

I recall a lot of white tile roofs in florida ended up turning black from whatever.


44 posted on 09/19/2021 6:29:34 PM PDT by Rebelbase (The difference between animals and humans: animals would never let the dumbest of the herd lead them)
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To: American Number 181269513

does it kill birds who try to fly over or dare they try to land on the house, all that reflected solar can’t be good for birds or insects.


45 posted on 09/19/2021 6:31:38 PM PDT by b4me (Repeated lies does Not equal TRUTH. )
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To: Eddie01

“How about 99% reflective mirror surface?”

I’ve got 6 gates going into the ranch and a foot and a half from each end they’re wrapped with 3M reflective tape. Makes it nice and cool to the touch compared to the black pipe that’s not wrapped. On a hot west Texas day that’s a relief, you don’t need a pair of oven mittens.


46 posted on 09/19/2021 6:31:54 PM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: Trillian

Yea, try painting a house with that super duper white paint down here in Houston during our scorching hot humid summers with no A/C.

You’ll suffocate.


47 posted on 09/19/2021 6:37:21 PM PDT by servantboy777
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To: caww
In Arizona they paint the tree trunks white to protect from the heat.

I had to fly to Phoenix several years ago for some training on new software. It was late summer and everything was just brown. On the ride from the airport I spotted a house up the road that had the greenest lawn anywhere around, but as I got closer I saw they had just filled the yard with rocks and painted them green.

48 posted on 09/19/2021 6:40:16 PM PDT by Bearshouse (Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem. *Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Rebelbase

Humidity, direct moisture, and degradation. Spanish tile works well but even if you reflect heat the radiation its still is swirling around causing convection (Does this conclusion even consider wind/humidity for instance) and eventually permeate/settle within the walls of your abode. A lot of white homes back in the day that installed central air when the tech became cost effective. Needless to say without central air, not a lot of people would live south of north Georgia.


49 posted on 09/19/2021 6:44:19 PM PDT by rollo tomasi
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To: American Number 181269513

They are out to eliminate your air conditioning.


50 posted on 09/19/2021 6:44:57 PM PDT by Nuc 1.1 (Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: American Number 181269513

White privileged paints. Paint everything black.


51 posted on 09/19/2021 6:48:34 PM PDT by wgmalabama (We will find out if the Vac or virus risk was the correct choice - can we put truth above narrative)
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To: Bearshouse

I believe it!

We use to go to the Cotter Conventions in Phoenix ...it was a big deal and took a week just to go through the place. I noticed the yards were often rocks etc. But didn’t see a single one green...just the tree trunks painted white.


52 posted on 09/19/2021 6:51:51 PM PDT by caww ( )
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To: American Number 181269513

Bull, we need more giga-watts for my Binford AC.


53 posted on 09/19/2021 6:53:54 PM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: Rurudyne

White supremacy

Isn’t that a Benjamin Moore color?


54 posted on 09/19/2021 6:54:14 PM PDT by Flick Lives (We may or may not have reached herd immunity, but we've definitely achieved herd stupidity.)
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To: American Number 181269513

Cultural appropriation for houses.


55 posted on 09/19/2021 6:54:22 PM PDT by TexasM1A
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To: American Number 181269513
"— it produces a cooling power of 10kW for a 1,000sq. ft. roof, or more than a typical house AC unit."

For about a week or less and onward, as dust to bird droppings slowly degrade its reflectiveness, while the cost of washing eats savings.

56 posted on 09/19/2021 6:59:30 PM PDT by daniel1212 ( Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save + be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: American Number 181269513

Too White

cancel


57 posted on 09/19/2021 7:12:06 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: WLusvardi

That was going to be my question, but you froze is the answer.


58 posted on 09/19/2021 7:38:14 PM PDT by Don W (When blacks riot, neighbourhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn.)
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To: American Number 181269513

Ultra white until birds crap on it or soot happens.


59 posted on 09/19/2021 7:50:59 PM PDT by grey_whiskers ((The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.))
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To: Wuli

Does the article not say that it emits infrared heat? If that is the case, imagine how nice it would be to have a lot less mosquitoes and gnats and other bugs in the immediate area around your house as well.

But, yeah... In MN (not to mention several other northern states) you would have a fairly high heat bill.


60 posted on 09/19/2021 8:03:32 PM PDT by jurroppi1 (The Left doesn't have ideas, it has cliches. H/T Flick Lives)
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