Solar Reflective Roof Paint InfraCOOL from Dulux Acratex

A COOL ROOF Means a COOL Interior and That's COOL
The New Technology That Helps to Maximise Total Solar Reflectance...

Dulux AcraTex has made a commitment to continually improve its environmental footprint and sustainability of its products. The world is getting warmer and the state of planet is an issue for all of us. The term urban heat island (UHI) refers to the fact that cities and urban areas are often significantly warmer than the rural areas that surround them. In presenting this article, Dulux AcraTex wishes to inform and educate the market how urban heat island form and what can be done to mitigate some of these effects with its latest Dulux AcraTex InfraCOOL Heat Reflective Technology.

The term 'Urban Heat Island (UHI)' phenomenon was first investigated and described by Luke Howard a chemist and amateur meteorologist in the 1810s. He presented evidence that the air and surface temperatures in London were often higher than in the surrounding rural areas. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now reports that on average US cities are up to 5.6°C warmer than the surrounding rural areas.

There are several causes of urban heat island (UHI):

• Increased absorption and retention of heat due to decreased surface reflectivity (building and roads as opposed to natural vegetation)
• Changes in the thermal properties of surface materials
• Reduced evapotranspiration due to decreased vegetation cover

Of various mitigation strategies, COOL ROOFS offer by far the simplest and cheapest approach to stabilise global warming � reducing CO2 emissions and paying for itself in direct cooling energy savings.

How does InfraCOOL Technology work?
Dulux AcraTex InfraCOOL Heat Reflective Technology cools the roof surface by maximising the TOTAL SOLAR REFLECTION, before it is absorbed including the (invisible) infra-red portion of the sun's energy which accounts for over 50% of the sun's total energy. Higher solar reflectance means lower surface temperature and by repelling heat in the first instance less heat is transferred into the building and living space.

Large broad roof facilities typically use galvanised roofing which weathers quickly and becomes a poor reflective surface but Dulux has changed all that. Dulux AcraTex InfraCOOL COOL ROOF White with InfraCOOL Technology can potentially reduce the surface temperature of the roof by 44°C under medium wind conditions.

It doesn't have to be WHITE to be COOL....
Because InfraCOOL Technology maximises reflection of infra-red radiation, even dark colours can be made cooler. InfraCOOL Charcoal, for example can be up to 16°C cooler than conventionally formulated Charcoal without changing the visual colour.

A cooler surface means less heat penetration resulting in cooler occupancy zones and this means lower use of energy � translating into energy cost savings and reduced associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Dulux AcraTex InfraCOOL was recently awarded the 2010 DesignEX New Product Award in the Building and Construction section at the recent DesignEX show. In addition to excellence in design and manufacture, the judging was based on innovative features, ergonomic design, functionality, aesthetics, durability, versatility, safety features and environmental sensitivity and Dulux AcraTex InfraCOOL has all.....
http://www.dulux.com.au/specifier/our-brands/dulux-acratex/infracool

For a complete system guide and technical advice on specific project requirements, please contact Dulux AcraTex at
http://www.dulux.com.au/specifier/our-brands/dulux-acratex/find-or-contact-us

It makes sense to trust Australia's leading coatings company DULUX in specifying the coating system for your next Residential or Commercial project

Literature Cited
1. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2008) Heat Island Effect, EPA. Last Accessed July 9 2008