Protective Rain-Harvesting Roof Treatments

This paint-like coating has been developed by researchers at the University of Sydney and the Dewpoint Innovations startup as a way to protect roofs and even passively capture water. The solution is a nano-engineered polymer coating that's rated to reflect as much as 97% of the sun's rays to help buildings maintain their temperature in hot summer conditions. The coating is also reported to passively collect water from dew for more than 30% of the year, which could be enough to satisfy the water needs of the average household.

Research Lead Chiara Neto at the University of Sydney's Nano Institute and School of Chemistry commented on the paint-like coating saying, "This technology not only advances the science of cool roof coatings but also opens the door to sustainable, low-cost and decentralized sources of fresh water – a critical need in the face of climate change and growing water scarcity."

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