Fluorescent Pigments for High-Performance Cool Roofing and Facades

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PPG Industries and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are partnering to develop a new class of dark-colored pigments for cool metal roof and façade coatings that incorporate near-infrared fluorescence and reflectance to improve energy performance.
Photo courtesy of PPG Industries
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Berkeley Lab Heat Island Group physicist Paul Berdahl inserts precursor solution into a furnace. After boiling and then combustion, a fluorescent red pigment is formed.
Photo courtesy of University of California, Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Berkeley Lab Heat Island Group physicist Paul Berdahl inserts precursor solution into a furnace. After boiling and then combustion, a fluorescent red pigment is formed.
Photo courtesy of University of California, Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Lead Performer: PPG Industries - Pittsburgh, PA
Partner: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Berkeley, CA
DOE Funding: $474,000
Cost Share: $56,000
Project Term: 10/1/2013 - 9/30/2014
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Building Technologies Innovations Program 2013 (DE-FOA-0000823)

Project Objective

This project is developing dark-colored, cool pigments that combine near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence with NIR reflectance. These pigments will obtain unprecedented effective solar reflectance (ESR) values for dark-colored coatings used in the building envelope. Metal coatings will be formulated and characterized in dark red and near-black colors with ESR values of 0.50–0.70, a significant improvement over standard dark coatings, which have ESRs of only about 0.10–0.30. If successful this project will yield a product that reduces buildings’ cooling load while satisfying consumer demand for dark colors on building surfaces.

Project Impact

PPG Industries estimates this project will save 0.17 quads annually, worth approximately $1.3 billion per year.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Karma Sawyer
Performer: Mike Zalich, PPG Industries

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