There are lots of cool cities around the world, but how do you keep a city cool? Not only do many of them have to cope with sizzling summer temperatures, they also have to withstand urban heat island effects and – in several regions – the growing impact of global warming.

For many homes and buildings, the answer is air conditioning, but this requires significant amounts of energy. For example, according to government figures, 34% of household power in Singapore is used for cooling interiors.

In an effort to find a helpful solution, our coatings scientists developed Weathershield KeepCool technology, which uses special pigments to reflect infrared heat – and keeps exterior walls cooler by up to 5°C.

When applied to the exterior façade of a house or building, the paint can help to reflect infrared heat, in turn reducing the amount of heat that’s transferred to indoor spaces. Which means interiors are kept cooler and less energy is required.