As Singapore is rapidly urbanised over the last decades, coupled with climate changes, the built-up areas became hotter and we use more air-conditioning to cool ourselves. The hot air generated by the air-conditioning units contributes to the rising temperature in built-up areas This leads to a viscous cycle where the hotter it gets, the more air-conditioning we use, and the more air-conditioning we use, the even hotter it gets. Singapore has more installed air-conditioning units per capita than anywhere in Southeast Asia. The number of air-conditioning units is projected to grow by a staggering 73% between 2010 and 2030, where the built environment is projected to house a population to near 7 million over the next 12 years. The Heat Island Effect is anticipated to be a major environmental issue for Singapore in the foreseeable future.

The sun emits light in different spectra, one of which is IR (Infra-Red). IR absorb by various substrates including paints and caused them to heat up and emit heat to the environment.