Ultra-white ceramic cools buildings with record-high 99.6% reflectivity::undefined

  • @Treczoks
    link
    English
    347 months ago

    Probably illegal here because of the high reflective value. Depending on the sun’s position, it could dazzle and blind people, e.g. people driving cars or riding bikes. I know that for this reason, shiny metal roofs are not allowed.

    • @KapiteinPoffertje
      link
      English
      387 months ago

      There is a difference between mirror like reflection and diffuse reflection. Mirror reflection is what you get with metal roofs which beam the sun directly to a target resulting in one spot being blinded. Diffuse reflection will spread it around, resulting in more light all around which is what we can handle as humans.

      • Jojo
        link
        fedilink
        English
        317 months ago

        Can mostly handle. Snow blindness is a thing, and that’s all diffuse reflection too, not specular. But it’s unlikely a roof would be such a problem.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          87 months ago

          The reason for snow blindness is the fact the snow fills such a high portion of the visual field.

          • Jojo
            link
            fedilink
            English
            97 months ago

            Yeah, hence it’s unlikely a roof would fill it to the same extent and wouldn’t be a problem.

    • @AstridWipenaugh
      link
      English
      197 months ago

      It’s not visibly reflective. Yes, it’s white, but it’s cool to the touch because the majority of the energy is radiated out into space via non-visible wavelengths. Someone has already posted a great YouTube video from Night Hawk In Light in a comment where he explains how this tech works and makes his own paint!

    • @ladicius
      link
      English
      27 months ago

      I have aluminium foil covering my windows in summer and that doesn’t blind anyone by far, even in full sunlight.

      Not everything reflecting is a mirror.