Addressing indoor heat issues throughout the entire building: Reducing heating and cooling loads through heat shielding and insulation.

When thinking about ways to combat the heat indoors, we often tend to think of reviewing the performance and temperature settings of our air conditioners, but often that alone is not enough to achieve sufficient results.
The actual indoor temperature is influenced not only by the performance of the air conditioning system, but also by the overall conditions and environment of the building.

This article organizes the factors that cause indoor heat from the perspectives of "windows," "roofs," and "equipment," and explains the approach and direction of measures to reduce heating and cooling loads through heat shielding and insulation.

Why does the room get hot? | Causes of rising room temperature and heat flow

When considering measures to combat indoor heat, there is a tendency to try to address the issue by reviewing the performance of the air conditioner or adjusting the temperature settings.
However, indoor heat cannot be solved by air conditioning alone.

A major factor contributing to indoor temperatures is the heat that enters the room through the building.
The heat contained in sunlight gradually affects the interior of a room as it passes through windowpanes and accumulates when it hits the roof or exterior walls.
In this case, the factors raising the room temperature are near-infrared rays, which are transmitted as heat from sunlight, and radiant heat emitted from objects that have heat, such as buildings.

The following three points are particularly influential in the rise of room temperature:

These combined effects of heat can lead to situations where the room temperature doesn't drop easily even with the air conditioner running, forcing you to lower the set temperature.
In other words, the temperature inside a building is not determined solely by the performance of the air conditioner, but is influenced by the overall heat flow throughout the building.

Understanding this structure is the first step in considering effective heat countermeasures.

Organizing indoor heat countermeasures with three approaches: heat shielding, insulation, and reducing air conditioning load.

When considering measures to combat heat indoors, it's important to organize the overall heat flow of the building and its impact on the air conditioning system, rather than implementing individual measures haphazardly. This involves considering "where heat is entering and how it's affecting things."​

In this chapter, we will organize the approach to dealing with indoor heat by dividing it into three perspectives: ① heat shielding, ② thermal insulation, and③ reduction of air conditioning load.

① Heat shielding: Prevents heat from entering.

Heat shielding is the concept of preventing sunlight and heat from entering the interior of a building.

When it comes to dealing with indoor heat, the amount of heat that has entered the building to begin with has a much greater impact than maintaining the room temperature lowered by air conditioning.

The heat contained in sunlight causes the room temperature to rise as it passes through windowpanes or hits roofs and exterior walls and accumulates. Near-infrared radiation and radiant heat, which act as heat, are the main contributors to this process.

In heat shielding measures, it is important to reflect this heat from the outside. By taking appropriate heat shielding measures on windows, roofs, and exterior walls that are susceptible to the effects of sunlight, you can reduce the amount of heat brought into the room itself and suppress heat intrusion.

​By incorporating a heat-shielding perspective, the following effects can be expected:

• The rise in room temperature will slow down.
• It can be operated without significantly lowering the air conditioning temperature setting.
• The operating load on the air conditioning system will be reduced.

Heat shielding is the most fundamental approach to combating heat, and when combined with insulation and reducing the air conditioning load (discussed later), it leads to the creation of a more efficient indoor environment.

② Insulation: Maintaining temperature

Insulation is the concept of making a space less susceptible to the effects of temperature differences between the inside and outside, thereby maintaining a consistent indoor temperature.

If a building's insulation is insufficient, even with air conditioning running, heat can easily enter the room through windows, the roof, and the exterior walls.
As a result, even when the air conditioner is running, the room temperature does not drop easily, and the air conditioner tends to run for longer periods of time.

In terms of insulation measures, it is important to create conditions that make it difficult for outside temperatures to transfer into the interior.
By incorporating an insulation perspective, the following effects can be expected:

• It becomes less susceptible to the effects of outside temperature.
• This leads to improved cooling efficiency and reduced temperature variations.
• It becomes easier to reduce the operating time and load of air conditioning equipment.

By combining heat shielding and insulation, it becomes possible to operate the air conditioning system smoothly throughout the entire building.

③ Reducing the air conditioning load: Using equipment efficiently

Reducing the air conditioning load means creating a condition where the air conditioning system can operate without being subjected to excessive strain.

Improving the overall thermal environment of a building through heat shielding and insulation ultimately reduces the burden on the air conditioning system itself.

When the temperature inside the room or around the equipment is high, the air conditioner needs to operate at a high load for a long time in order to maintain the set temperature.
As a result, the burden on air conditioning equipment increases, and power consumption tends to rise.

On the other hand, by suppressing heat intrusion into the building, lowering the ambient temperature around the equipment, and stabilizing indoor temperature changes, the operating conditions surrounding the air conditioning system itself can be improved.

By reducing the air conditioning load from this perspective, the following effects can be expected:

• The operating efficiency of air conditioning equipment tends to improve.
• This leads to reduced power consumption and lower maximum power usage.
• This makes it easier to operate the equipment stably.

By improving the thermal environment of the entire building through heat shielding and insulation, and reducing the air conditioning load, it leads to improved and optimized equipment operation, and ultimately to achieving both comfort and energy savings.

Effective solutions for combating indoor heat | Windows, roofs, equipment, and air conditioning

When it comes to dealing with heat indoors, it's important to organize the concepts of "① heat shielding," "② insulation," and "③ reduction of air conditioning load," and then select the appropriate measures according to the specific challenges of the building.
From here, building on the concepts outlined in the previous chapter, we will introduce typical solution examples for each point susceptible to heat-related influences, such as windows, roofs, equipment, and air conditioning.

Heat countermeasures from windows

Windows are a major source of heat exchange within a building, and they significantly influence indoor temperatures and the load on the air conditioning system.

When using air conditioning in the summer, it is generally said that about 70 % of the heat entering a house comes in through the windows.
Therefore, when considering measures to combat heat from windows, it is important to consider both "heat shielding" to reduce heat from the outside and "insulation" to prevent the room temperature lowered by air conditioning from escaping.
Possible solutions include improving the heat-shielding properties of existing windows and improving the thermal insulation performance of the windows themselves.

The key is to choose the appropriate method based on the building's conditions and the ease of renovation.

Heat shielding measures: Macnicut heat-shielding paint for windows

Macnicut, a heat-shielding paint for windows, is a solution that reduces heat intrusion into the room by suppressing near-infrared rays, which are the main cause of heat, when applied to existing window glass as a heat-shielding measure.

Designed to transmit visible light while minimizing the effects of heat, it is expected to reduce room temperature rise and air conditioning load during the summer without significantly compromising indoor brightness or views.

Because it can be installed without replacing glass, it is suitable for situations where you want to implement countermeasures in stages while keeping construction time and costs down.

▶ Macnicut Heat-Reflective Window Paint | Click here for product details

Insulation measures: Vacuum glass

If you want to improve the insulation performance of your windows themselves, you can consider using window materials with superior insulation properties, such as glass with a vacuum layer.

Vacuum-sealed glass incorporates a vacuum layer inside the glass, which makes it more difficult for outside temperatures to transfer into the room, thus making it easier to maintain a lowered room temperature for longer periods.
As a result, it helps to reduce unevenness in room temperature and improves cooling efficiency.

Since this involves replacing glass, it is necessary to consider the building's structure, renovation plan, and the balance with costs.

Heat countermeasures from the roof and exterior walls

The building's exterior, including the roof and walls, easily transfers heat absorbed during the day into the building's interior, contributing to rising indoor temperatures and lingering heat into the evening.

In particular, in buildings with metal roofs and exterior walls, or buildings with insufficient insulation, heat absorbed through the building envelope can accumulate in the attic and affect the interior of the building.
As a result, even when the air conditioner is running, the room temperature does not drop easily, and the air conditioning load tends to increase.

To mitigate the effects of heat from the building envelope, incorporating the concept of heat shielding is an effective measure.

Heat shielding measures: Heat shielding sheet

One way to combat heat from the building envelope is to use heat-shielding sheets installed under the roof, in the attic, and on the inside of the exterior walls.

Heat-shielding sheets reduce heat buildup in the attic and minimize its impact on the interior by reflecting and blocking radiant heat received by the building envelope from sunlight and heat from the outside.
Because heat absorbed by the roof and exterior walls is less likely to be directly transferred into the interior, it is expected that the rise in room temperature during the day and the heat that lingers in the evening will be mitigated.

One of its features is that, depending on the building's structure and the space above the ceiling, it can be installed without requiring major renovations.
This is an effective heat shielding measure for buildings where the building envelope is made of metal or other materials that easily absorb a lot of heat, or in environments where heat tends to accumulate in the space above the ceiling.

Improvement of equipment and air conditioning efficiency

After minimizing the heat impact from the building envelope, such as the roof and exterior walls, the next important step is to create an environment where the air conditioning system itself can operate efficiently.

When a building is susceptible to external heat and ambient temperature fluctuations, it puts a strain on the air conditioning system, making it less efficient to operate the cooling function.
As a result, this can lead to problems such as increased power consumption and uneven room temperature.

Improving equipment and air conditioning efficiency involves methods such as optimizing the operating environment of existing equipment or reviewing the air conditioning system itself. The key is to choose the method that best suits the building's purpose, size, and renovation plan.

Heat insulation and heat shielding measures for equipment: Macnicut heat-shielding and heat-insulating paint

Macnicut, a heat-shielding and heat-insulating paint, is a solution for improving air conditioning efficiency by applying it to the surface of equipment such as air conditioner outdoor units, thereby reducing the heat impact on the equipment.

Air conditioner outdoor units are susceptible to ambient temperature fluctuations, such as radiant heat from sunlight and heat from the floor. The higher the temperature around the outdoor unit, the greater the operating load and the lower the air conditioning efficiency tends to be.

By applying Macnicut, you can create an environment that is less susceptible to the effects of sunlight and heat from the surroundings, allowing air conditioning equipment to operate smoothly and reducing power consumption.

Since the installation can be done without shutting down the air conditioning system and does not involve replacing equipment, it is also suitable for situations where you want to gradually improve air conditioning efficiency while utilizing existing equipment.

▶ Macnicut Heat-Insulating Paint | Product Details Here

Improvement of air conditioning system: Radiant heating and cooling system CeeM

Even if the building envelope and equipment environment are in order, if issues remain regarding air conditioning load and comfort, there is also the option of reviewing the air conditioning system itself.

The CeeM radiant heating and cooling system is an air conditioning method that uses radiant heat to provide heating and cooling. Unlike conventional convection-type air conditioning systems that blow air, it directly exchanges heat with people, floors, walls, and other objects.

During cooling, the cooled panels directly absorb heat from people, walls, and other objects, and during heating, they release heat towards objects. This allows for efficient heating and cooling even in large spaces while minimizing temperature variations within the room.
As a result, it is expected that comfort and air conditioning efficiency can be achieved while maintaining an environment that is nearly windless and silent.

Because it involves equipment replacement or renovation work, this is one of the air conditioning systems that should be considered from a medium- to long-term perspective, such as when a building is newly constructed or during major renovations, depending on its purpose, the size of the space, and the renewal plan.

▶ Radiant heating and cooling system CeeM | Click here for product details

Summary | It is important to consider heat countermeasures for indoor spaces as a whole facility.

When considering measures to combat indoor heat, it is important to consider not just a few elements such as windows or fixtures, but also the overall heat flow of the building and its impact on the air conditioning system.

Although the building envelope, including windows, roofs, and exterior walls, as well as the building's equipment environment and air conditioning system, may appear to be independent of each other, they actually influence one another.
Therefore, simply implementing heat shielding measures or improving air conditioning efficiency in isolation often does not yield sufficient results.
To implement effective heat countermeasures, the key is to optimize the flow of heat throughout the building by improving heat shielding, insulation, equipment environment, and air conditioning systems.

Furthermore, the structure, size, purpose, operating hours, and usage status of each building vary from facility to facility.
Since there is no single method that applies to all companies and facilities, it is necessary to organize and select the most suitable measures according to the specific building and operational conditions of each facility.

Inquiry

The challenges and effective measures for dealing with indoor heat vary depending on the building's conditions and operational status.
Therefore, even if you're at the stage where you don't know where to start, it's important to organize and consider the overall picture.
At Macnica, we offer total solutions for indoor heat countermeasures tailored to each customer's situation, taking into account the overall heat flow and impact on air conditioning in the building from the perspectives of windows, roofs, equipment, and air conditioning.

If you're facing challenges with indoor heat countermeasures or are unsure where to begin, please feel free to contact us for a consultation.