One of the key factors that make a sustainable facility is the innovative way that it reduces its energy consumption and adopts alternative sources of energy. An ordinary building often sources its supply of electricity from the power grid, which traditionally uses coal-fired power generation. When coal is burned, greenhouse gasses are emitted to the atmosphere.
Sustainable facilities aim to move away from total dependence on traditional electricity. Technological advances have made it possible to adopt cleaner sources of energy, such as solar power, wind, geothermal and bio-mass sources.
To support energy reduction efforts in the facility, there are green coatings engineered with sustainability of the building in mind. These green coatings are often the products of nanotechnology research, with advanced properties that perform many interesting functions. Some features of these green coatings are that they are self-cleaning and will keep the building clean-looking for long periods of time. They have the ability to protect surfaces from dirt and pollutants. With these properties, the facility does not need to schedule frequent energy-consuming maintenance to keep the coating system in good condition.
Green coatings reduce energy consumption in the facility by absorbing the ultraviolet (UV) radiations from the sun. They protect the exterior surface from UV damage and reflect the sun’s rays away from the building surface. This makes it possible to maintain cool comfortable temperatures in the inner areas of the facility even during the summer months. With cooler temperatures, the HVAC and other energy-consuming systems do not have to work hard to maintain comfortable living spaces within the facility.
