The Ongoing Quest to Coat the World in Green
October 2015 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 73
initiatives for the future, the company doesn’t just comply with
regulations, but also sits on technical committees and works with
pioneers in the green movement including American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, Cool Roof Rating
Council (CRRC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED), and Energy Star.
In February 2003, in response to the headway made by organizations like LEED and Energy Star, the first Restriction
of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) was introduced
by the European Union. The regulation spurred the removal
of selected heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and hexavalent
chromium from products around the globe. In 2013, LEED
introduced Version 4 of its regulation program, increasing the
level of transparency and accountability for building construction and operation. LEED v4 set new standards for the disclosure of building product materials and practices to ensure the
quality of future environmentally focused construction. Today,
the Living Building Challenge has emerged as one of the most
advanced certification programs across the industry, mandating the highest standard for sustainable building practices and
product requirements.
Remaining on top of the ever-evolving material resource requirements for certifications from these organizations encourages coating manufacturers to keep sustainability and innovation
top of mind. Coating manufacturers around the world worked
tirelessly to create paints that eliminated adverse environmental
implications and pushed the industry towards a more sustainable future.
Analyzing the Coating and Application
Process
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have long been part of the
coating industry as their properties have aided in the application
of coatings. Recognized as a component of the common aroma
of paint fumes, VOCs are believed to contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and urban smog, which in turn, may
contribute to adverse health effects. After truly understanding
the effects of VOCs, coating manufacturers directed their focus
to creating formulations that lessen the need to use solvents.
Valspar was able to achieve this by using a higher percentage of
solids in its formulations that resulted in less coating volatizing
into the air.
The next step is to look at the coating process. Even the way
Valspar’s coil coatings are applied to the metal used for wall
and roofing panels has been enhanced for better environmental performance. Coil coating— where the paint is rolled onto
the metal in a factory setting— is a pretty energy efficient technique. When coil coating metal paneling, the VOC gasses that
are released during the process are returned to the system, and
through the use of a thermal oxidizer (also known as a thermal
incinerator), become fuel for the curing process.
A Defense Against the Rays
When the strong rays of the sun strike the roof and exterior of a
building, the absorbed infrared light is converted to heat, which
leads to a rise in interior temperature. Within an urban sprawl,
this problem compounds with smog, asphalt and a lack of vege-
tation creating a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect.”
This effect can dramatically increase costly air conditioning and
electricity expenditures for building owners.
To help mitigate the heat island effect, manufacturers turned
to solar reflective pigments that reflect infrared radiation while
still absorbing the same amount of visible light. Through the
incorporation of these pigments, manufactures created solar re-
flective coatings that stay much cooler than their non-reflective
counterparts. Solar reflective coatings not only help lower en-
ergy costs without sacrificing durability, performance or beauty,
but also provide an array of colors options that previously ab-
sorbed considerably higher amounts of infrared light.
Roofs with higher reflectance also have lower surface temperatures, which help reduce ambient air temperatures and
save money on air-conditioning costs. Valspar estimates that
its solar reflective coatings can average out to $20 to $30 of
savings per year per 1,000 square feet of roof space, and the
nationwide incorporation of cool roofs could yield an annual
savings of $1 billion.
What Does a Green Future Look Like?
Coating manufacturers across the globe are continuously looking for new innovations that will push the industry to a greener
future. Valspar believes that biorenewables and recycled materials are crucial elements in the implementation of a green agenda.
For example, Valspar was the first to introduce both biorenewable materials that remain in backers and a biorenewable
polyester resin system for interior coil applications. The company uses recycled biorenewables like vegetable oil, which is
an effective substitute for fossil fuels. Valspar has a number
of patents on both virgin vegetable oil and recycle or used oil.
Valspar’s products contain a resin system composed of up to 30
percent biorenewable products, resulting in a sustainable finished product that doesn’t lose biorenewable materials during
the curing process. Used predominantly in the coatings developed for backers, giant coils of sheet metal are turned into all
types of pre-painted construction products. These materials are
not only eco-friendly and sustainable, but can be achieved without any significant cost to the coating material.
A Case For Maximizing Energy Efficiency
When building the Center for Courageous Kids in Kentucky,
energy efficiency was top of mind. Developers looked for the
perfect combination of roofing material and coating to help in
the quest for the lowest energy cost.
As many of us know, summer camp is a cherished tradition
for many families, giving kids an outlet to connect with new
friends, new skills, and the great outdoors. But for children with
life-threatening illnesses, this tradition is one among many that
can fall by the wayside, taking a backseat to medical appointments and the need to stay close to care facilities.
That is what the late Betty Turner Campbell set out to change
when she founded the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville,
