Performance testing of nanocomposite based coatings with high dust pickup resistance and solar reflective index for energy efficiency in built environment

Abstract

Cool paints/coatings are passive solutions which enable reduction in energy loads and impart substantially in buildings owing to their reflective properties. The most common metric to assess their performance is the Solar Reflective Index (SRI). Higher SRI values for paints enable the reflectance of solar radiation and further aid in reducing the cooling load in buildings. This study presents the development and testing of a novel nanocomposite-based coating, NanoDPR, designed to offer high dust pickup resistance and solar reflective index for energy efficiency in the built environment. The research addresses the challenges of dust accumulation affecting the long-term performance of such cool coatings in arid climatic conditions of the UAE. The study includes experimental investigation, conducted over 1000 days, demonstrated that the NanoDPR coating exhibits superior resistance to dust pickup and a lower reduction in SRI values compared to a reference coating. The work further extends to modelling on a residential townhouse for energy savings evaluation. The results revealed a 5% reduction in energy consumption annually and an avoidance of 2.75 kg of CO2/m2 of exterior painted area with the NanoDPR coating in comparison with conventional reflective paints. Results show that the development and adoption of such coatings can significantly impact energy consumption and carbon emissions, ultimately promoting a more sustainable future.