DuPont™ Energain® is a passive thermal storage material. At 22°C inside the room, the panels begin to absorb heat and slow down the temperature increase, providing a significant improvement in comfort. Conversely, the panel will begin to release stored heat once room temperature falls to, and below, 18°C. At both ends of the scale, comfortable room temperatures are easier to maintain, and studies show that temperature peaks can be reduced by as much as 7°C. The panels work in conjunction with a mechanical ventilation system and may reduce the size and levels of use of air conditioning units.
Reducing the need for cooling and heating provides substantial cost savings
The primary function of DuPont™ Energain® panels is to limit the degree to which temperatures rise above and below acceptable 'comfort levels' for people inhabiting a building. As a consequence of that function, the need for cooling and heating systems is greatly reduced. Either way, a building with DuPont™ Energain® uses less energy to run air conditioning, which represents a major cost saving. Tests carried out by DuPont and independent third parties indicate that a saving of up to 35% on air conditioning costs can be realized with DuPont™ Energain® panels in place.
Reduced energy use means reduced CO2 emissions
At a micro-level, DuPont™ Energain® helps to decrease the amount of energy used in a building by controlling temperature levels and thus reducing the need for cooling and heating. The knock-on effect at a macro-level is that as less energy is needed, less electricity is used, and ultimately fewer fossil fuels - oil, coal and gas - are burned, which emit CO2. This shrinks the environmental footprint of the building, in line with creating responsible and sustainable building strategies that are being pursued politically at local, national and global levels.
