Global warming has urged people to think of ways to prevent more greenhouse gases that cause the overall temperature to rise. Experts at Purdue University have another solution to eliminate greenhouse gases from airconditioning emissions. The solution? White paint.
Purdue University experts created the world’s whitest paint to eliminate the need to use air conditioners. This groundbreaking invention, though simple, can be a means to also lessen utility bills. Homes or establishments can use this type of white paint and reduce or completely eliminate the use of air conditioners.
This project was spearheaded by Purdue University’s professor of mechanical engineering Xiulin Ruan. Ruan started this project about seven years ago, intending to battle against climate change. Their idea? Make the paint white to reflect the sunlight from homes or establishments.
Purdue University Researchers Create World’s Whitest Paint
This invention is based on the concept of radiative cooling. Researchers explored radiative cooling in the 1970s to curb the effect and use of traditional air conditioners. While the overall temperature rises due to global warming, more and more people seek the comfort of using air conditioners. However, the emission from these machines contributes to more greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
By creating the world’s whitest paint, it reflects 98.1 percent of solar radiation. Due to its white color, the paint takes in minimal sunlight without power or electricity. Moreover, this type of paint also emits infrared heat and cools below the surrounding temperature.
That said, the surrounding area can be cooled because it absorbs less heat from the sun. This eliminates the need for air conditioners, according to researchers from Purdue University. It could be used to cool an area of more or less 1,000 square feet. The cooling power capacity is 10 kilowatts, which Ruan claims, is more powerful than the air conditioners in most houses.
Other types of paint commonly used in homes and buildings only reflect about 80 to 90 percent of sunlight. This type of commercial paint causes homes to get warmer. Due to the high concentration of barium sulfate, a chemical compound used in cosmetics and photo paper, it makes the paint ultra white.
Guinness World Records holder
The ultra-white paint is the first of its kind and can be a game-changer in homes with areas of about 1,000 square feet. Moreover, commercial buildings can minimize the use of energy-hungry equipment to cool the interiors.
Ruan’s invention has made it to the Guinness World Records. It’s known as the whitest paint ever made in history. Although this paint won’t solve the global warming issue instantaneously, experts claim that about 0.5 to 1 percent of the Earth’s surface should be covered in this type of paint to reverse global warming.
Up for sale?
Homeowners will be ecstatic to know that this type of ultra-white paint will be available on the market soon. On the other hand, researchers from Purdue University are also expediting the completion of this project.
Lead researcher Xiulin Ruan said they are collaborating with large corporations to commercialize the paint in the near future. However, this may take a couple of years before it’s available on the market. Ruan said homeowners and business owners could use this paint on roofing shingles and metal roofs.
While researchers are still perfecting this project, commercialization is in the works for better and cooler homes in the future, without the need for electricity. So hold your horses as this ultra-white paint will be up for sale soon.
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