Time to warm up

Building a new home means startingfrom scratch, which makes it an ideal time to plan for energy efficiency. Both the design and the materials you choose will impact greatly on energy costs and your family's comfort.

But achieving an energy efficient home doesn't have to involve extra cost it can be as simple as choosing the right type of paint. EccoTherm¢ is a new low-e paint from BM Pacific that reflects radiant energy. This helps keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Thanks to a sophisticated new paint technology from German inventor Gerd Hugo, EccoTherm can significantly reduce household energy costs, says Barry Whalley, BM Pacific managing director.

"The paint reflects approximately 30% of the radiant heat back into a room, compared with around 5% for standard paints," he says. "In summer that is reversed, with the heat remaining outside, so your home remains cool. Two coats of EccoTherm is all it takes."

Whalley says thermal insulation is measured by r-value the higher the number, the better the insulation properties. Using two coats of EccoTherm paint can create a 20% improvement in r-value.

"This means you can turn your thermostat down as much as 2-4°C, which can translate to annual savings on heating and cooling costs between 7.5% and 20%."

Whalley says two coats of EccoTherm can also make a significant difference to the thermal effectiveness of building materials, such as tilt slabs.

"Research has shown that the r-value of a tilt slab improves by as much as 50% when it is painted with EccoTherm."

The EccoTherm fan deck features 40 soft, luminous colours, which are available through Benjamin Moore Colourworks stores nationwide. In addition, there's another palette of 32 colours created by Aalto Colour, available at Aalto stores.

For more information, contact BM Pacific, PO Box 19-289, Avondale, Auckland, freephone 0800 335 335, or visit the websites: www.benjaminmoore.co.nz and www.eccotherm.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas