AkzoNobel’s Heat-Reflective Paint Innovation Addressing Urban Heat Challenges in Malaysia

Approximately 2,000 residents living in a large social housing complex in Malaysia are set to benefit from a major initiative involving the application of AkzoNobel’s heat-reflective paint technology.

The company has collaborated with the Resilient Cities Network, the Malacca local council, and the Malacca housing board to coat the exterior walls of eight apartment buildings with Dulux Weathershield Express, a heat-reflective paint capable of lowering surface temperatures by up to 5°C.

In addition to supplying paint for one of the apartment blocks, AkzoNobel is also participating in a research initiative in partnership with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

Previous tests revealed that indoor night-time temperatures in the Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit neighbourhood in Malacca can remain as high as 29°C. The ongoing study aims to assess how AkzoNobel’s heat-reflective paint technology can help lower indoor heat levels and improve overall living conditions for residents.

“By working together, we can effectively tackle the very real challenge of urban heat,” explains the director of AkzoNobel's Decorative Paint ASEAN business, My Lan. “It’s about demonstrating the power of paint and the positive impact that can result from making homes more comfortable.” 

Katrin Bruebach, Global Director of Programs and Delivery at the Resilient Cities Network, adds: “This is what happens when a community takes their future into their own hands and when partners show up to support them. This is not just about a coat of paint. It’s about a community that knows the risk posed by urban heat, is testing solutions and is building the knowledge and spaces it needs to adapt.” 

Dulux Weathershield Express is designed to deliver enhanced durability and long-lasting protection for exterior walls under all weather conditions. Equipped with KeepCool heat-reflective technology, the coating has already been applied to housing and development board apartments in Singapore and has received the Singapore Green Label certification. The product also provides sustainability and cost advantages, as it requires only two coats compared to the three coats typically needed in conventional paint systems, reducing both paint consumption and labour requirements.

In Malacca, painting work on the apartment block sponsored by AkzoNobel was completed in mid-April, while the remaining seven blocks are expected to be finished by the end of June. The initiative also included a mural painting event, where residents collaborated with representatives from the project partners to create outdoor artworks using the same heat-reflective paint applied to their homes.

“We’re grateful to all the partners involved in supporting the residents of Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit,” says Datuk Kalsom binti Noordin, from the Malacca State Executive Council for Women, Family and Community Development. “This is what happens when families, businesses and government come together in the spirit of community to protect older adults and children and make a better life for all.” 

In 2024, AkzoNobel undertook a repainting initiative in parts of Malacca’s historic city centre to help preserve the cultural character and identity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The company developed a customised shade of red to restore the iconic Stadthuys (city hall) and nearby buildings in the old town square, while Dulux coatings were also applied to shophouse façades along the Malacca River.

Source: AkzoNobel