Nanotechnology Can Increase Buildings’ Energy Efficiency
Directory 2013
Increasing numbers of existing industrial buildings are being renovated to reduce energy costs by using new nanotechnology-based coatings. (Nanoparticles in these coatings are one billionth to one millionth of a meter in size.) These coatings make it possible to reduce energy bills without major construction costs. Companies owning older buildings and firms seeking to buy or lease these buildings can realize substantial reductions in operating costs, thereby making these older buildings more valuable assets.
The primary location of heat loss is usually through windows. Buildings constructed in the 1940s and 1950s, especially in the northern United States, present the greatest challenge in this regard. Many of these older buildings include multiple rows of single-pane windows, as well as solid block wall construction that is difficult to insulate with traditional materials. Replacing 40,000 square feet of windows can be cost-prohibitive, even though it means savings down the road. With this in mind, many older manufacturing buildings are being successfully renovated and reopened using nanocoatings on their windows.
For example, General Electric opened a new $48 million data center in one of the original buildings in its sprawling Applianc
e Park complex in Louisville. “Increased amounts of energy consumption in data centers have become an industry-wide issue,” says Riccardo Rutili, general manager of GE’s Digital Energy business. The renovations in this 1950s era building addressed this issue. The building is one of the few data centers to have received Platinum LEED certification. An important reason for this is the nanocoatings used on the building windows.
Insulated Window Coatings
While there are many potential benefits to be gained from manipulation of materials at the nanoscale level, nanocoatings have been one of the first to make it to the marketplace, helping companies reduce energy costs. For example, Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Naples, Fla.) began operations in 2004. Its Nansulate® line of coating products has been used worldwide. The coatings incorporate a nanotechnology-based material with very low thermal conductivity. This clear, paint-on insulating coating can be used to reduce heat conduction as well as provide resistance to moisture, corrosion, mold growth, and ultraviolet (UV) rays. In most cases the nanocoatings are applied as a liquid using standard paint application equipment, and are fairly invisible over most surfaces, except glass. However, painting over old windows is substantially cheaper than installing new, well-insulated windows. Painted on windows or skylights, the coating will give a slightly frosted look and allow through visible light while reducing heat loss and UV penetration. Thermal energy transmission can be reduced by nearly 35 percent at a product cost of 50 to 59 cents per square foot.
A benefit of using coatings is the flexibility to apply them over an entire building at once or to divide the building into zones with the coating being applied to one zone at a time. The building owner can focus on the highest energy-savings zones first and later use the energy savings to pay for applying coatings to other parts of the building. These savings can provide the manufacturer with an economic advantage over competitors.
Project Announcements
Swiss-Based GF Casting Solutions AG Plans Augusta, Georgia, Operations
05/07/2024
3M Expands Valley, Nebraska, Production Operations
05/07/2024
Advanced Call Center Technologies Expands Norman, Oklahoma, Operations
05/07/2024
Rivian Automotive Expands Normal, Illinois, Operations
05/06/2024
Meta Platforms Plans Montgomery, Alabama, Data Center Operations
05/06/2024
Crystal Window & Door Systems Plans Selma, North Carolina, Production Operations
05/06/2024
Most Read
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
38th Annual Corporate Survey: Are Unrealized Predictions of an Economic Slump Leading Small to Mid-Size Companies to Put Off Expansion Plans?
Q1 2024
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
Making Hybrid More Human in 2024
Q1 2024
-
20th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients Prioritize Access to Skilled Labor, Responsive State & Local Government
Q1 2024
-
Manufacturing Momentum Is Building
Q1 2024
-
Last Word: Striking a Balance - Prioritizing Electric Infrastructure While Preparing for the Next Wave of Industrial Expansion
Q1 2024