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Akzo Nobel unveils “sunscreen” coating system for urban cooling
Akzo Nobel has introduced a new water-based coating system in China that passively cools buildings and reduces energy consumption. The innovation combines a radiative topcoat and an aerogel-based mid-coat to support sustainable construction and climate goals.
Akzo Nobel has launched a thermal insulation coating system in China that passively lowers the temperature of building surfaces and enhances energy efficiency. Developed by the company’s Decorative Paints business, the two-layer technology mimics the effect of sunscreen: it reflects solar radiation and emits heat away from the building. Compared to conventional exterior coatings, it can reduce surface temperatures by up to 10 % during peak summer conditions, according to internal tests.
The system uses a dual approach. The topcoat is an upgraded heat-reflective paint with high solar reflectance and thermal emittance, allowing absorbed heat to be emitted back into the atmosphere. The mid-coat incorporates advanced aerogel insulation materials with very low thermal conductivity to prevent heat transfer from the exterior to the interior. Both layers are fully water-based and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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Tested in Shanghai, aligned with carbon goals
The new system has been successfully applied to several buildings in the Lingang area of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. Karen Yin, Director of Decorative Paints China North Asia and President of Akzo Nobel China, described the product as a “breakthrough in architectural coatings” and underlined its role in supporting China’s dual-carbon policy – which aims to control both total emissions and emissions intensity.
“The science behind these ‘cool coatings’ might be complex,” Yin noted, “but the result is simple: buildings stay cooler, use less energy and provide more comfort.” She added that the innovation is especially promising for the renovation of existing buildings, where energy savings and emission reductions are critical.
With buildings responsible for around 40 % of annual global carbon emissions, Akzo Nobel’s latest development may offer new options for sustainable design and help mitigate the urban heat island effect in densely built areas.
