How much would it cost to insulate your house with aerogel?
We estimate that in the U.S. the cost of a 10 mm thick aerogel blanket of R-4 per 10 mm will be between $2.50- $3.00/ft2 in the near future.
Is aerogel the best insulation?
Air in microscopic pores make up the remaining 97% of aerogel’s volume. This air has very little room to move, inhibiting both convection and gas-phase conduction. These characteristics make aerogel the world’s lowest density solid and most effective thermal insulator.
Can you use aerogel to insulate your house?
Contractors are already using the new aerogels to insulate homes that are sealed from the outside, both over masonry and under shingles, Ceramics.org reports. “On wood frame homes, thin strips of aerogel can be applied to studs to prevent what’s called thermal bridging, where heat escapes through the walls’ framing.”
Why does aerogel cost so much?
Even after the price drop, aerogels remain more expensive than common insulating materials. But since aerogels are more plastic than fiberglass or foam, permeable to water vapor, and flameproof, the extra cost may well be worth the investment when insulating masonry, shingles, or curved surfaces.
How much does a piece of aerogel cost?
Even though producing more aerogel at a time would bring its price down, the process and materials alone come with a high price tag of about $1.00 per cubic centimeter. At about $23,000 per pound, aerogel is currently more expensive than gold [source: NASA JPL, FAQs]!
What is Aerogel insulation?
Ultra-Thin Super Insulation with Aerogel Despite the fact that we are now living in the 21st century, aerogel insulation seems like a material out of science-fiction. It is the lightest solid known, although by volume it is 99% air. It is breathable, but it doesn’t absorb water.
What are the advantages of aerogel glazing?
The advantage of aerogel glazing compared to other highly insulating glazing units are the high g -value, which in cold climates has a large influence on the annual energy consumption for space heating.
What are aerogel windows?
Aerogel is a light and effective insulating material. Current façade options for building designers include transparent glass or opaque wall, but Aerogel windows now offer a third translucent option which enable provision of an abundance of daylight while offering very low U-values.
What is the solar transmittance of the aerogel glazing?
The normal/hemispherical solar transmittance is measured at laboratory conditions to more than 75%, making the aerogel glazings developed in this project superior to other highly insulating glazings on the market with respect to energetic performance in northern European or equivalent climates.