Do Dark Colors Absorb Heat? Here’s How Dark & Light Colors Impact Your Home

Recently, I published a piece on dark exterior home colors, which addressed some of the common questions and strategies around designing a home with a dark exterior color palette. I felt it would be appropriate to follow up on that piece with a sister article that covers some of the more technical and science-based explanations for what dark colors do regarding light and heat absorption. 

Many clients have asked me about the ramifications of using different colors. Not only about how lighter or darker colors will affect the feeling of a space but also the temperature moderation and energy consumption as well. That’s right, in this piece, your friendly neighborhood color expert will be doing her best to explain some of the physics of using different colors on or in your home! Ready? Let’s dig in!

Do Dark Colors Absorb Heat? Color Science Recap 101

Wavelengths of Light

Let’s briefly recap what colors are and how/why different colors exist. All objects react to wavelengths of light differently. Depending on how a certain object (house paint, clothing, etc..) behaves with different wavelengths of light determines what color it will be. For example, a black charcoal-painted home absorbs most of the wavelengths of visible light, giving it a dark appearance to our eyes. On the other end of the spectrum, a stark white painted home would refract almost all wavelengths of visible light, which is why pure white is considered “the absence of color.” 

Thermal Energy from Light Energy

Now, darker objects can get hotter than lighter colored objects because of thermal energy. When an object absorbs wavelengths of light, that light energy is converted into thermal energy. That thermal energy will slowly dissipate from the object producing it, depending on how dark or light the color is and how dense the object is. 

Regardless if you find the science interesting, the major takeaway is this; light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, and color is the product of light waves being absorbed or refracted by an object – darker objects absorb more light waves and create more heat than lighter objects. 

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Do Dark Colors Absorb Heat? – Designing With Light and Dark

Now that we know why colors will create more or less heat depending on their composition, let’s consider why designing with light and dark colors may have more consequences than the visual arrangement. As a color specialist, I will be the first to say that I’m less concerned with the thermal heat output of an exterior color than the color’s arrangement within a palette. But, I tell my clients that darker colors on a home exterior have the potential to create more heat than light colors, potentially much more heat. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) published an energy efficiency report many years ago. They explained that darker colors could absorb 70-90% more of the sun’s radiant energy than lighter colors. A home that absorbs more light will generate more thermal energy, and heat will transfer into the home, making it much more difficult to efficiently cool the home on hot days. 

Different Colors for Different Regions

There’s reasoning why you see different color preferences across different areas of the country. You will find richer, darker, and deeper colors on homes in areas of the country where the climate is cooler or downright cold. In areas where the climate tends to be significantly warmer, the choices lean towards colors that are more luminous and brighter, with softer colors for the exterior of their homes. 

As I design color palettes for homes and commercial properties all over the country, I have to consider energy concerns when curating colors. For instance, if you look at areas across the sunbelt, especially Florida, many homes will use lighter color palettes and pastel colors to suit the environment and harsh sun better. I wouldn’t recommend the same Victorian house colors for the exterior on a beachside ranch on South Beach in Miami as I would to a Victorian in the North East. The colors must be appropriate and not contrast with the surrounding community and environment. Choosing colors involves taking the climate into consideration as well as the design of the color palette. When sourcing color options, I cannot disregard what would be highly inefficient in maintaining a comfortable climate within the home.

Colors and Energy – The Interior is a Whole Different Story!

While exterior color arrangements need to be addressed regarding home heating and cooling efficiency, don’t be as concerned about your interior color palettes. The home’s interior will not receive the bombardment of solar energy like the exterior will, so don’t fret that pine green walls in your home office will make the room uncomfortable. Unless your home has floor-to-ceiling windows, energy concerns from darker or lighter color arrangements shouldn’t take precedence over design goals. 

I hope this piece was helpful to you in understanding how light and dark colors may impact a home’s energy performance. Do you have dark exterior colors on your home? Do you prefer the lighter color arrangements instead of darker ones? Please share your thoughts; I always love hearing from you!.