MILLIONS OF SQUARE METERS IN PROSPECT
Developed by Arkema in the United States, Kynar Aquatec® emulsion boasts the exceptional properties of Kynar 500® PVDF resins, which have been protecting the metal structures of many buildings for 50 years – including the Louvre pyramid. “Our engineers wanted to develop an acrylic PVDF latex that transferred these properties to a paint that could be applied not to metal in the factory, but directly to the building on-site using traditional tools,” explains Agnès Beaugendre, Product Development Manager. Their efforts paid off. The topcoat based on Kynar Aquatec® latex can be applied with a sprayer or brush to all types of materials. Cool Roof quotes maximum costs of €20 per sqm, including surface preparation, undercoat and topcoat. There are many buildings suitable for application. In France alone, flat commercial roofs cover around 5 million sqm, and many are aging and poorly insulated. “Arkema is working actively to promote the benefits of cool roofing, which has taken off around the world in recent years. This is just the start, with new sustainable building standards and requirements to reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings. Our teams are working hard to present the proven benefits of Kynar Aquatec® in terms of energy savings. It clearly outperforms traditional acrylic coatings in terms of total solar reflectance (TSR), dirt-resistance and longevity,” says Paul Lavallee, Global Market Manager, Kynar® Coatings. In construction, the future looks white, especially with a coat of Kynar Aquatec® emulsion!
AN ONLINE ENERGY-SAVING CALCULATOR!
In the United States, our researchers have developed an app – Kynar-aquatec-calculator – that instantly calculates the annual energy savings generated by a white roof surfaced with Kynar Aquatec® resin over three years, based on sunlight levels in each state and the surface area of the roof. Results are shown in kW, dollars and CO2 emission reductions. On large surface areas, savings generated by the reduction in air-conditioning required can quickly add up!
63% more energy-efficient
White, so-called cool roof coatings made with Kynar Aquatec® PVDF resins are up to 63% more energy-efficient over time than those made with acrylic resins.
Meanwhile, in Europe, over the past five years an increasing number of public buildings and large retail spaces are turning white on top. The trend is being encouraged by local authorities, including the City of Paris, which has identified cool roofing in its Climate Energy Plan as a way of combating urban heat islands.