Want your house to change color? It could soon be possible with these paints that shift with the seasons

Long before heaters and air conditioners, people designed and built homes and towns to be responsive to the natural climate. Painting homes white in hot climates reflects the sun’s light, helping to keep the inside of the structure cooler. On the other hand, darker structures can help to absorb more sunlight in colder climates.

Joe Doucet is a self-described quadruple threat: a designer, entrepreneur, and creative director. Working at the intersection of sustainability and design, Doucet has developed a prototype for a pain that harnesses the power of these ancient tricks by adapting to temperature variations throughout the year.

How does the paint work?

Doucet calls it “Climate Responsive Paint.”

“Inspired by studies on the effect of color on a building’s temperature, Joe Doucet created a novel formulation specifically for exterior paint that allows it to change color from a lighter tone in the summer months to a darker tone in the winter months to improve any structure’s energy efficiency passively‚” reads Doucet’s website.

Doucet explains the benefits of painting homes with specific colors. A white house can lower internal temperatures by approximately 12°F, while black paint can raise temperatures by around 7°F. The designer aims for his product to reduce energy demand by 25% for homes and other structures. However, Doucet acknowledges the challenge of creating a durable product, as savings would be negated if the structure requires repainting annually or even biannually. According to This Big House, an online home improvement resource, those looking to get the exterior of their home painted should be prepared to pay between $1.50 and $4 per square foot.

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