Innovations in High Thermal Barrier Paints for a Cooler Future

Innovations in High Thermal Barrier Paints for a Cooler Future

High thermal barrier paints are paints that effectively reflect sunlight and suppress the rise in temperature of buildings and road surfaces, and are being used as a measure to mitigate the heat island effect. In the Shinagawa Season Terrace, the use of highly reflective paint has been shown to reduce building surface temperatures by up to 10°C and lower ambient temperatures by approximately 1 to 2°C. The use of highly reflective paint is particularly effective in the central Tokyo area. In addition, thermal barrier pavement has been introduced on major arterial roads in Tokyo and on the Metropolitan Expressway Route C2, and results of reducing road surface temperature by approximately 10°C have been reported.

These measures are being promoted in a way that contributes to improving the sustainability of the urban environment through collaboration among public organizations and companies such as the Japan Weather Association, Shimizu Corporation, Tokyo Gas, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Environment, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Furthermore, the use of highly heat-shielding paints is expected to save energy by reducing the rise in indoor temperatures and the use of air conditioners. Products with solar reflectance as high as 92.7% (for white) have also been developed, which are effective in controlling building temperatures.

Through these technologies and initiatives, the urban environment is being improved with the goal of reducing the temperature rise in central Tokyo by at least 1°C by 2050.