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Discover the sustainable innovation of paint that changes color according to temperature, created to reduce internal heat in buildings by up to 7°C and promote thermal comfort with energy savings.
In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, with heat waves and extreme cold becoming more frequent, a new invention It draws attention for its simplicity and transformative potential: a paint that changes color depending on the temperature.
The innovation comes from designer Joe Doucet, who developed the product based on a personal need and ended up finding a solution with a significant environmental impact.
A color changing paint can change the tone of an external surface from light to dark and vice versa, depending on the temperature of the environment.
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This apparently aesthetic change has a direct effect on the internal temperature of buildings, and can reduce the heat accumulated in internal environments by up to 7°C.
The idea is that, in hot weather, the surface reflects more light (becoming clear), and in cold weather, it absorbs more heat (getting darker), creating a kind of natural thermal insulation.
Idea that came from personal experience
The inspiration for the creation of thermochromic ink It came about when Doucet was renovating his own home and looking for an exterior color that would provide not only a pleasant appearance, but also thermal comfort.
Troubled by the trade-off between aesthetics and energy efficiency, he chose not to make an immediate decision. Instead, he decided to investigate how the color of the house could impact the indoor temperature throughout the seasons.
During his tests, Doucet found that white-painted houses remained up to 7°C cooler than black ones in the summer, but also up to 4°C cooler in the winter.
“Most of the information I found was about what happens to surface temperatures, but not how that transfers to the interior. So I decided I would postpone my decision for a year and do a test,” says the designer.
How color-changing paint works
Innovation works from a liquid crystal additive that reacts to temperature. The technology It is similar to that used in old “mood rings”, which changed color depending on the temperature of the wearer’s skin.
These liquid crystals change their molecular structure with heat, affecting how light is reflected or absorbed — and therefore the perceived color.
In the case of paint, below 25°C, the crystals absorb light, making the surface dark. Above this temperature, they become transparent, revealing the base color of the paint — preferably white or light —, which reflects the heat.
This alternation is almost immediate and results in a building that appears completely dark or light, with no intermediate tones.
Sustainability and energy efficiency
One of the great advantages of paint that changes color with temperature is that it does not require electricity, sensors or moving parts.
There is “no smart technology, no moving parts, just a simple color change that can dramatically reduce energy consumption,” explains Doucet.
The product is still in its early stages, but initial tests have shown great efficacy and durability. Initially, the liquid crystals degraded when exposed to sunlight, especially UV rays.
However, Doucet claims that he has managed to develop protection against this degradation, ensuring the functionality of the paint for at least a year, without loss of performance.
Versatility and application
The additive created by Doucet can be incorporated into any type of paint, as long as it has a clear base to ensure efficiency in thermal regulation.
This means that the thermochromic ink can be used in different types of buildings — from homes to factories, schools and offices — expanding its potential impact.
For regions with large temperature variations between summer and winter, the innovation has proven to be particularly effective. However, in places where the climate is more constant, such as areas close to the equator or in areas that are always cold, its application may be more limited, although it is still relevant from an energy perspective.
Next steps towards the market
Joe Doucet is now seeking industrial partners to scale up production of the paint and conduct large-scale testing. His goal is to launch the product commercially in the coming years and contribute a sustainable and affordable solution to the problem of high energy consumption associated with temperature control in buildings.
While waiting for large-scale manufacturing to become viable, Doucet decided to paint his own house completely black, opting for an immediate solution due to his impatience with the pace of development of the project. “I’m very impatient. So I went ahead and painted everything black,” he jokes.
A color for every climate
The creation of paint that changes color with temperature represents a creative and effective response to the demands of the present and the challenges of the future. In a global context where energy efficiency, sustainability and innovation go hand in hand, solutions like the one developed by Joe Doucet show that even a “simple” coat of paint can make all the difference.
By adapting to the climate without the need for complex technological systems, thermochromic paint emerges as a viable alternative to make cities smarter, homes more comfortable and the planet a little more balanced — all with the transformative power of colors.
