Purdue University scientists have created a paint so white, it could lead to reduced use of air conditioning because of its heat reflective properties, the Des Moines Register reports. The white is so white, it’s made the Guinness Book of World Records as the whitest white ever produced.
Purdue researchers were looking to develop a white paint that could reduce the amount of sunlight absorbed by buildings in a way that didn’t require power, thereby lowering the need for air conditioning within the structure. According to the scientists, The paint reflects 98.1% of solar radiation while also emitting infrared heat.
Researchers believe that if the paint was used to cover a 1,000 square foot roof, it could result in a 10 kilowatt reduction in power usage in the structure, more than consumed by air conditioners in most homes. “When we started this project about seven years ago, we had saving energy and fighting climate change in mind,” said Xiulin Ruan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue.