A new white coating that reflects 85% of the heat that hits it is being trialled in Los Angeles. The new coating, developed by former military scientists Ronald Savin, reduces the surface temperature of the roof by as much as 50 C and thus reduces the amount of energy required to cool the interior of the building. Suffice to say, as I write this in rainy Cornwall, there is no requirement as yet for this coating in the UK!
For full story see http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2009578076_roofs02.html
thanks for the info mate. just to add up a note to whether the material could cope with high humidity climate as in south east asia. cheers!