

If you need to illuminate a naturally dark room, such as a closet or interior room, you can pull natural light from adjacent spaces by using the reflectivity of a lighter color palette. It's a simple idea, but Smith says that lighter paint colors – in a long hallway especially – can actually help illuminate that space if the lighting is placed correctly. Designers can actually affect the energy loads of a house based on color placement." For example: "Using color to improve the indoor environment is critical. "A color designer should be involved with the project from the early design stage," he says. The key to getting the highest-possible LEED score and the biggest green bang for the buck, Smith says, is for designers to jump into the building process at a very early stage – such as when decisions are being made about architectural features including windows, doors and skylights. Doing something different and environmentally conscious gives them a white hat." Design professionals are looking for ways to distinguish themselves. "It can give you a higher resale value and, as the public becomes more aware of green and what it can do to lower energy costs, the demand will continue to grow. "Going green and LEED certification are ways for builders and designers to gain an edge," he says. in Sarasota, Fla., has been a green-building consultant for more than a decade, but he's seen a big surge in interest over the last three years. People are asking, "‘How do I use color to save energy?'"ĭrew Smith of Two Trails Inc. But now we're getting more questions about it. "Many designers have always looked at LRV for varying reasons," Revnew says. The scale goes from 0 (absorbs all light) to 100 (reflects all light). On the back of every Sherwin-Williams color chip is that color's light reflectivity value (LRV) number, Revnew notes. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. The reflectivity of interior and exterior paint colors can even bolster a project's certification under the U.S. A lighter color palette and higher-sheen surfaces can increase reflectivity, making a space brighter without using artificial light. Simply put, lighter, more reflective hues can help a project "go green," says Steve Revnew, director of marketing and product development for Sherwin-Williams. And, especially important at a time when energy costs are soaring, color can play a role in reducing a design's long-term cost for an owner or resident – all thanks to the power of reflectivity. It can help light penetrate nooks and crannies. You can use paint color to boost your project's green rating - and give yourself a marketing edge while you're at it.Ĭolor is more than just an aesthetic choice.
