Eco-friendly exterior wall coatings that incorporate heat reflective technology helped a Florida office building earn a LEED-Gold green rating and won the project recognition from an industry magazine.

The Journal of Architectural Coatings recenty named the construction of a new office building for Burke Hogue Mills Inc., and its use of the Coolwall coating system, a product by Textured Coatings of America Inc., a "Top Green Coatings Project," the coatings company said.

Burke Hogue Mills Inc., better known as BHM Architecture, specializes in sustainable design. The firm's new $4 million headquarters in Lake Mary was completed last fall. The 15,452-square-foot building features a number of green elements that promote energy, water and resource efficiency.

There were so many that the office building, whose design team had been shooting for a LEED-Silver rating, earned the higher LEED-Gold designation. The U.S. Green Building Council's rating system awards green design certification at four levels: The first rating, certified, is followed by silver, gold and platinum certification, the highest.

Use of products from the Coolwall line helped reduce energy demand at the building by as much as 21 percent, according to Textured Coatings of America, known in the coatings industry as Texcote.

Coolwall coatings reflect the sun's infrared energy and UV radiation, lowering wall surface temperatures by as much as 40 degrees Fahrenheit , said Texcote.

The company also said the product line has a low volatile organic compound rating and that recycled glass is used in its manufacture.

_{Image of BHM Architecture Office Building courtesy of Texcote.}