The reduction of extremes in heat or cold without continually increasing power consumption
The answer is provided by Charles Rendigs, the National Business Development manager of "Thermoshield", an Australian company developed and owned, situated at Dandenong. It is a coating for roofs that can be painted or sprayed on, can be coloured by mixing with red or green paint. White of course is generally used when a high solar reflective index is desired i.e. in Summer but as it ages its capacity to reflect is naturally diminished.
But Thermoshield can also be used to retain warmth inside in the Winter months i.e. as a form of insulation producing what is called "dead air" space so its properties can work to either reflect or absorb. It can be used in conjunction with PV as PV usually only covers part of the roof and may heat up around the cells. It can increase the productivity of cells during the day. It can also be complementary to pink batts. air conditioners and other forms of temperature control.
It has been tested by CSIRO and has been used from Queensland to Melbourne. It sounds like a robot acting as instructed!
(Summary written by Bev McIntyre)
