AkzoNobel helps South Asia stay cool with reflective paint

The weather in South and Southeast Asia is extremely hot, with average summer temperatures in the region climbing to nearly 50°C , and the cost of air conditioning is prohibitive for most residents. AkzoNobel is helping residents in the area stay cool with its Reflective Cool technology.

AkzoNobel's Keep Cool technology, also known as Sun Reflect technology, has been available in Southeast and South Asia since 2010. Keep Cool technology is used in exterior primers in decorative coatings from the high-performance Dulux Weathershield range of exterior emulsions and Dulux waterproofing products.

In addition, AkzoNobel offers its Cool Chemistry product portfolio, which includes Interpon D2525 low solar absorption powder coating, which contains a reflective pigment that deflects infrared light and the sun's heat; CERAM-A-STAR 1050, a high-performance SMP coil coating that offers exceptional durability and excellent moisture and UV protection; Dulux Weathershield Sun Reflect, a high-performance exterior coating that reduces surface temperatures up to 5°C.

Wijnand Bruinsma, Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel, noted that Keep Cool technology helps building owners and occupants benefit from this more sustainable coatings solution. Bruinsma observes that AkzoNobel’s range of cool chemical paints and coatings are designed to reflect invisible infrared energy, reducing heat build-up and indoor temperatures compared to traditional paints. 

"Our product uses Keep Cool technology, which has a total solar reflectance (TSR) value of greater than 35 percent and generates less heat than traditional exterior paints. With this technology, we are helping to address two key trends: global warming and urbanization," he added. "These require new solutions for the built environment to reduce the cost of cooling buildings and the carbon footprint of energy consumption, and create more comfort for building owners and occupants."

Maintaining price competitiveness is a major challenge that AkzoNobel can overcome. "One of the challenges during the development phase is to innovate in a highly competitive market while remaining price competitive," Bruinsma said. "As a leader in innovation, AkzoNobel has strategically chosen to introduce Keep Cool technology in its Dulux Weathershield range, its core topical lotion product in Southeast and South Asia."

"Consumers in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and more have responded very positively to our Keep Cool products. Overall, the technology has been praised for its proven ability to keep buildings cool while improving their resilience and durability and the comfort of those who live in them." he concluded.