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Test Fence
Ft Myers FL
Cool Roof
Request Form
Green Building Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to Valspar green building general questions and answers section.
If you are not able to find an answer to your question, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Does Valspar have any coil or extrusion coatings for "Green
Design" projects that require energy star,
LEED, or title 24 products?
Yes, Valspar Solar Reflective coatings are available from leading metal building component manufacturers. Architects that want these products used for their projects should specify: Factory applied, baked-on solar reflective paint coating as manufactured by Valspar.
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What incentives are offered to homeowners for energy efficient
improvements to windows, doors, skylights, and metal roofs?
Metal Roofs, Windows, Doors, and Skylights Can Qualify!
Homeowners are eligible to receive a US Federal tax credit of up to 30% of installed costs when they make certain energy efficient improvements to their existing primary residence. According to the stimulus plans enacted in 2008 and 2009, the products must be put into service from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010. There is a $1,500 cap on the credit per home for most improvements. Labor costs are not included.
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Homeowner Tax Credits Available
- What incentives are offered to homebuilders for energy efficient improvements?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed on February 17 by President Obama extends the timeframe for US Federal tax credits for homebuilders through 2010. The other credit guidelines originally established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for new home construction remain the same. Guidelines for the credit are listed below. $2000 Credit Guidelines.
- Home builders are eligible for a $2000 tax credit when they build a new energy efficient dwelling that achieves 50% energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and supplements.
- At least 1/5 of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.
- The credit also applies to contractors of manufactured homes conforming to Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.
- For 2008 taxes, eligible contractors need to fill out IRS Form 8908.
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US Federal Tax Credits for Home Builders
- What incentives are offered to commercial buildings?
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (HR-1424), approved and signed on October 3, 2008, extends the benefits of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 through December 31, 2013.
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US Federal Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Improvements Commercial Buildings
- Is my color selection limited if I choose a Valspar SR (Solar Reflective) coating?
A wide variety of colors including greens, reds, dark browns, and black are available in SR coating formulations.
- Do you have a list of your products listed with ENERGY STAR?
Yes, click on the attachment view the entire document and to see all the products listed with energy star.
Valspar products listed with ENERGY STAR
- Do you have a list of your products listed with CRRC?
Yes, click on the attachment to view the entire document and to see all the products listed with CRRC.
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Products listed with CRRC
- Most of the attention on solar reflective coatings is associated with metal roofs. Is it useful on other building components?
Yes. Roofs are getting a great deal of attention due to their mass and their position in relation to the sun's rays, but Valspar SR coatings can also be useful on other components.
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Flurospar SR Brochure
- How much energy can be saved using Valspar SR coatings?
Due to the varying size of buildings and their locations, as well as varying cooling units, an exact number is not possible. However, studies such as one done by Florida Power and Light validate the savings. Florida Power and Light built six identical 1700 ft2 residences in Ft. Meyers, Florida. They found that the prepainted metal roof saved 23% in energy costs compared to asphalt shingles.
- Does climate affect the impact of typical energy use reduction?
Yes. Valspar SR coatings are best suited for warm to hot climates.
- What is the life expectancy of a Valspar SR coating?
Valspar SR coatings will last for the same length of time as the original formulas.
- How much does the solar reflectance value, emissivity, or SRI value of SR coatings change over time?
Very little change in both solar reflectivity value and emissivity value is expected. This information is based on data gathered from coating samples that have been on Valspar's test fence in Ft. Myers, Florida for more than ten years.
- How is solar reflectivity measured?
Ultraviolet, visual and infrared spectra are the components of natural sunlight. A compilation of these components is measured using a solar spectrum reflectometer in accordance to ASTM E 903/C 1549. The closer the value is to 1.0, the more efficiently the surface reflects heat.
- How is emissivity measured?
Emissivity is measured using an emissometer. The emissometer is operated in accordance to ASTM E 408/C 1371. It uses a heated thermopile radiation detector.
- How is SRI measured?
You can calculate the SRI by using the LEED SRI calculator.
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LEED SRI calculator
- How do I find out the Solar Reflectivity, Emissivity, and Solar Reflective Index value of coatings?
Click on the cool roof request form, enter the product, color, and item code on the form and email to beastlack@valspar.com.
- What are the solar reflective and emissivity values of Valspar coatings with an SR designation?
The solar reflective values of Valspar SR coatings range from 0.25 up to 0.85. Most Valspar SR coatings have high emissivity values around 0.90. Coatings with metallic or pearlescent effects generally have a little lower emissivity values.
- How does the emissivity value of prepainted metal building components compare with other bare metal components?
Bare metal will have lower emissivity than paints. Paints generally fall in the 0.80 to 0.90 emissivity range. Bare metals are typically less than 0.10
- How much of a prepainted metal building component can be recycled?
100% of a prepainted metal roof can be recycled. According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, each year steel recycling saves enough energy to electrically power more than 18 million households or to meet the needs of Los Angeles for more than 8 years.
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Recycled Content and Recycling Capability of Steel and Aluminum
- Are metal building components composed of recycled material?
Yes. Steel's recycling rate is about 2/3 according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. About 1/3 of the aluminum used in the US comes from recycled material according to the US Aluminum Association.
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Recycled Content and Recycling Capability of Steel and Aluminum
- What is urban heat island effect and can Valspar SR coatings offer a solution?
Urban heat island effect refers to the rise of temperatures in urban areas relative to the surrounding rural or natural areas due to the high concentration of heat-absorbing surfaces. Valspar SR coatings reduce this effect by deflecting more of the suns rays so that the buildings will not absorb as much energy resulting in lower energy consumption in urban areas.
- What is the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emission of Valspar SR coatings?
Although Valspar manufacturers solvent based coatings, the factory application process allows our coaters to capture and destroy the VOCs before they escape into the atmosphere.
- What do Valspar coatings have to do with LEED?
Valspar does meet the intent of this LEED point, but we are outside the scope. The intent of this point is to reduce the VOC's present in a building thus improving the overall air quality. Building components coated with Valspar coil or extrusion coatings do not emit any harmful of-gasses. Being outside the scope of the point, it applies to house paint, carpet, and other materials utilized within the interior of the building. They do not have a current category for factory applied liquid coil or extrusions.
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Is the indoor air quality affected when Valspar coatings are
used and how does this impact LEED credit: 4 for low emitting
materials credit?
The intent of LEED is to reduce heat islands to minimize impact on microclimate and human wildlife habitat. Using roofing materials with Valspar SR coatings having a Solar Reflectance Index equal to or greater than 78 for low-sloped roof or 29 for steep sloped roofs can help contribute to 1 LEED point. See Valspar LEED for NC V.2. document for more details.
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LEED for New Construction V 2.2
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Does Valspar have any coil or extrusion coatings for "Green
Design" projects that require energy star,
LEED, or title 24 products?
For more details on these Green Building FAQ's, please refer to our Green Design brochure.