Most people, from homeowners to green builders, know that heating and cooling costs account for a large percentage of the energy consumed in any household. Now, though, following in the footsteps of cheez, hair and silly string, comes the latest innovation in thermal conservation: spray-on glass coating.

The Spray-IT thermal coating, developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (News - Alert) (ITRI) of Taiwan, is eco-friendly and is designed to block UV rays and prevent heat from leaking out of your home. It can be used on existing windows or in new construction projects from green builders.

“Managing energy consumption is critical, especially in warm and cool climates where offices and homes, without proper thermal insulation, present a huge draw on the energy grid,” said division director, ITRI’s Electronic Materials & Devices Research Group, Dr. Tzer-Shen Lin in a press release. “ITRI’s Spray-IT thermal insulation coating makes it easy for companies and individuals to afford thermal insulation so energy can be conserved while reducing the overall carbon footprint. Spray-IT is inexpensive to produce, easy to apply and environmentally friendly.”

According to officials at ITRI, the spray coating is made of a lithium-flourine co-doped tin oxide material that forms a thin layer of insulation on glass or tile surfaces. It allows light to pass through while blocking UV rays and can be used indoors or outside. It is currently being tested for use in solar panels and on cars, buses and trains.

In other recent green builder news, Siemens (News - Alert) has released a “Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual” for public authorities. The manual explains how to reduce the use of water, energy and toxic chemicals in everyday home usage.