Comparing Cooling Costs and Surface Temperture Reductions

COOLWALL® cooling cost savings, surface temperature reductions and comparing bills for these savings. Cooling cost energy savings will vary based on:

COLOR CHOSEN

Comparing energy use on colors that are different than the color previously applied to a homeowner’s home will give inaccurate results. Even though COOLWALL® is typically over 200% more reflective in dark colors compared to traditional paint in the same color, darker colors will inherently absorb more infrared radiation leading to increased heat build-up and lighter colors will reflect more infrared radiation leading to decreased heat build-up. The color chosen for the DOE study was “Underseas”, which is a medium color. Comparing the same color in a traditional paint to COOLWALL® for this color, we are over 100% more reflective. This is what DOE used in coming up with their cooling cost savings chart. When comparing dark colors to the same or similar color in COOLWALL®, these darker colors will yield higher savings (The increase in reflectivity with COOLWALL® for dark colors is more substantial than the increase in reflectivity for lighter colors).

Comparing the same color of traditional paint to COOLWALL® in lighter colors, the percentage of increase in reflectivity, while still substantial, is lower and therefore will yield lower cooling cost savings. In order to obtain accurate comparisons, the color chosen must be the same or similar to the color being used for comparison. If a customer chooses to go from a light colored traditional paint to COOLWALL® in a darker color, the percentage of savings may not be as high as those obtained in the DOE study. If a customer goes from and extremely light color to a dark color in COOLWALL®, there may not be any surface temperature reduction and in fact be an increase in cooling costs. Consequently in order to make a proper comparison and analysis of surface temperate reductions and cooling cost savings, the color chosen by the homeowner needs to remain in the same family of color. ( Colors are typically classified as light, medium or dark.) Any comparison in surface temperature reduction and cooling cost savings needs to be done with the same or similar color. If the color chosen goes from light to dark there may actually be an increase in surface temperatures and cooling costs. The proper analysis should always be to compare the original color to the same or similar color in COOLWALL®.

CLIMATE CONDITION

Comparisons must be for periods when experiencing the same or similar climate conditions in order to be accurate.

LANDSCAPING AND SURROUNDINGS

Changes in the shading from landscaping and surroundings on walls, windows, or roofs will affect surface temperatures and cause energy use comparisons to be inaccurate.

UTILITY RATES

Changes in utility rates will cause comparisons to be inaccurate if dollar amounts are used for comparison purposes. Comparisons should be done on units of energy usage only.