Painting To Save Energy and Cut Costs

When it comes to cutting energy costs at your home or business, most of us picture smart thermostats, efficient lighting or better insulation. But did you know that a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference too? Let’s take a look at how paint—in both color and composition—can help you save energy and cut costs. 

Color Choice—Inside and Outside 

Inside, white or light neutrals help reflect natural light streaming in through windows, which can cut down on your lighting expenses. And color choice can affect psychology, as well, making it feel cooler or warmer, depending on your needs. Pale grays and beiges will reflect light and help things feel cozy. Light blues and mint greens can create a sense of coolness. If you’re hoping to make a space feel warmer—perhaps in a drafty room—consider colors like warm beige, terracotta, golden yellow, rust red and burnt orange. 

On the outside of your home or business, bright whites, light tans, pale yellows, cool grays and soft sage greens will all help reflect light, which is especially helpful in warmer climates as these types of colors reduce solar heat gain and cut down on your cooling expenses. In cooler climates, you might prefer dark blues, browns and blacks that will absorb solar radiation and keep things warmer. 

Reflective Paints 

Heat reflective paints are designed with special materials like reflective pigments, ceramic microspheres or nanotechnology that bounce sunlight away from your building. This cuts down on the amount of heat absorbed on a building’s exterior, which can help lower inside temperatures by 10–20°F and save up to 30% on cooling costs. These paints are widely available nowadays for residential, commercial and industrial use and can be applied to roofs, exterior walls and even pavement coatings. 

Relatively new dual-layer reflective paints are expected to soon be an option as well. These paints contain a base layer of metallic flakes that reflect infrared radiation. They’re topped with a layer that allows for color customization without sacrificing reflectivity. Dual-layer paints aren’t widely available on the market yet, as they’re still being perfected in labs. But they’re technology to keep an eye on in the future. 

Thermal Paints 

Related to the light reflective paints discussed above, thermal paints use nano-sized particles to reduce heat transfer through walls, ceilings and other surfaces. Although used more as a supplemental way to insulate, thermal paints are best used inside for south-facing rooms with intense sunlight, in attics and on ceilings to prevent heat escape and in basements to help retain warmth. Thermal paints—also called insulating coatings or thermal barrier paints—are sold by several brands online and at local home improvement stores. 

Thanks for reading our blog. We hope it inspires you to save energy and help create a more environmentally sustainable planet. Stay tuned for future blogs and social media posts from us with other helpful tips.