Experimental and theoretical investigation about the effect of nano-coating on heating load

Abstract

Building insulators reducing the natural gas required for interior heating or heating load reduction, have a positive impact on energy saving. Paints containing nano-silica aerogel can be applied as façade coatings and building insulators. In this study, the heating load was assessed for a building in a Mediterranean climate. Acrylic paint containing nano-silica aerogel was used as façade coating. The purpose was obtaining the performance of nano-paint on the reduction of heating load for the building. A model was developed to evaluate the amount of building heating load with and without the nano-paint. Nano-coated façade showed reductions in heating load compared to that façade without nano-coating. In addition, a stable heating load requirement was obtained after applying nano-paint, despite changes in the climatic conditions. Thermal insulation and water repellent properties of the paint containing nano-silica aerogel were important to reduce heating load requirement. Therefore, nano-paint containing silica aerogel was a cost-effective modification for façade which introduced a promising passive method to reduce heating load requirement in the buildings.