Thermalizr Methodology & Field Validation
Research-Informed. Data-Driven. Built for Real Buildings.
Thermalizr’s analytical framework draws on published building-energy research, heat-transfer principles, and recognized cool-surface measurement methodologies from the U.S. Department of Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Cool Roof Rating Council. Project-specific information and available field measurements help evaluate thermal opportunities and potential economic benefits.
Five Methodology Pillars
Solar Reflectance
Currently implemented: color-based planning ranges and optional entered reflectance.
Solar reflectance is the fraction of incident solar radiation reflected by a surface. Color is a proxy—not a measured product rating. Final CoolCote measurements are pending.
Thermal Emittance
Under development: numerical use in the preliminary calculator.
Thermal emittance describes how efficiently a surface emits thermal radiation. Product reference data can store emittance, but the current calculator does not use it in its energy formula.
Building Heat Transfer
Currently implemented: limited research-scenario matching and geometric wall-area estimates.
ZIP/state, building category, conditioning, wall area, and reflectance determine scenario applicability. Wall orientation, insulation, local weather, and HVAC influence real heat gain; they are not all modeled in this simplified tool. No EnergyPlus engine is integrated.
Economic Analysis
Currently implemented: conditional rate conversion, finish quantities, and editable maintenance scenarios.
Energy numbers require matching reference rows and usable rates. No simulation rows are currently connected, so the free assessment returns a qualitative energy result. Required primer has no configured price; complete installed economics and payback are not produced. Maintenance scenarios are hypothetical, not verified coating life.
Field Measurement and Validation
Under field validation: dated surface observations and project-specific protocols.
Baseline and follow-up observations must document ambient conditions, instrumentation, controls, timing, emissivity settings, and uncertainty. Warehouse pilot surface readings do not validate annual HVAC savings or the final commercial formulation.
Calculation Assumptions & Equations
Wall-area proxy: 4 × √(floor area ÷ floors) × floor height × floors × 0.8. Assumed heights: 10 ft residential, 14 ft commercial; 20% openings. Actual wall area overrides the proxy.
Finish buckets = ceiling(wall area × (1 + waste allowance) ÷ bucket coverage). Primer gallons = treated area ÷ 200. Finish coverage: 500–625 sq. ft./bucket. Primer and installed costs require a quote.
Conditional research calculations use capped reflectance interpolation and a ±35% planning band, not a statistically validated confidence interval. Legacy heating-price assumptions and reference caps need technical review before wider numerical deployment.
Annualized maintenance cost = entered installed cost ÷ hypothetical coating interval. Cash expenditures occur at discrete repaint dates. Combined annualized benefits are not cash payback or verified ROI.
Independent Validation Roadmap
Thermalizr is developing its field-validation dataset and pursuing independent technical review. Planned work includes documented instrumentation, comparable control surfaces, seasonal energy information, uncertainty review, and final-formulation product tests. No university validation partnership is claimed.
Authoritative Source Library
- U.S. Department of Energy — Building Energy Modeling
- U.S. Department of Energy — EnergyPlus
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Cool Walls
- Berkeley Lab — Solar-Reflective Cool Walls: Benefits, Technologies, and Implementation
- Cool Roof Rating Council — Wall Rating Program
Published research informing Thermalizr is not independent verification of Thermalizr’s predictive accuracy. DOE, Berkeley Lab, and CRRC do not endorse or certify Thermalizr. CRRC product ratings concern radiative properties, not energy-savings predictions.