Aerogel: Newest Technology on Wall Insulation

Despite the availability of tax incentives and rebates passed by the legislation as means to control the skyrocketing costs of energy consumption, over 40% of the nation’s energy consumption is still spent controlling the temperature inside buildings. Of this, 30% is wasted due to poor insulation. But the availability of the Aerogel, the best insulating material developed by NASA, to homes and other establishments may just be the solution to the current energy crisis. As such, several groups are pushing for the use of aerogel as one of the recommendations given after an energy audit.

What is Aerogel
Aerogel is more commonly known as frozen smoke. It is a dry and rigid material with strong insulation properties. It is made from gas and thus, is known to reverse heat transfers. Other than that, they are good inhibitors in the sense that air cannot penetrate through its lattice. As such, it has the ability to sustain dryness in a well-sealed container.

Types of Aerogel
There are three types of aerogel based on its active ingredient: silica, carbon and alumina. Each of these types of aerogel has different uses. For instance, alumina is used in NASA’s experiments involving particles travelling in hypervelocity while the carbon aerogel is commonly used in the manufacture of composite paper. Meanwhile, the silica aerogel which absorbs infrared radiation is used in house insulation. It allows light to enter any infrastructure but traps heat for solar heating. At present, the silica aerogel holds fifteen entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, including lowest density solid and the best insulator.

To reinforce the insulating properties of the silica aerogel, Thermablock developed a material that can be bent or compressed with the help of a unique fiber. The resulting product is a cost-efficient house insulation material that can potentially increase the wall’s insulation factor by up to 40%. A strip of only 6.25mm x 38mm is said to be enough to achieve such level of insulation.

Benefits of the Bettered Silica Aerogel for Insulation
Aerogel technology has been used by NASA on their space transportations for several years. This is a good enough proof of the materials resilience when it comes to trapping solar heat. Creating an aerogel model for home use will potentially revolutionize energy conservation in the future. Other benefits associated with this product include:

1. It is environmental friendly. The Thermablock, the patented silica aerogel for house insulation, helps reduce the carbon footprint of any establishment. It is made of about 30% recycled material and is completely recyclable.
2. It is economical because it only takes a thin sheet of about 6.25mm x 38mm to stop the wasting of energy. And the great thing about this residential silica aerogel is that it defies the natural wear and tear associated with age. The secret behind this fact is its hydrophobic nature, which means that it is unaffected by water.
3. Lastly, it is light weight and easy to apply through its stick-on-back for a hassle-free local application.

The introduction of the residential version of the silica aerogel could be the answer to the country’s current energy crisis. Home energy audit services will be much more time worthy if their recommendations are heeded but with the silica aerogel around, there is no reason why homeowners and business owners would still be wasting energy.

For the best home energy audit firm in Louisiana that provides reasonable energy recommendations, call us at 504-383-3261.