Check your subscription status, update your details and more. Super-insulating solid may soon help historical homes reach net-zero goals Millions of old homes across the UK and Europe need insulating under net-zero strategies, and promising start-ups believe materials called aerogels could be the answer Poorly insulated homes emit a lot of heat as thermostats get cranked up over winter Advances in the manufacturing process for aerogels, the lightest solids on Earth, could provide the most promising solution yet for one of the building industry’s biggest challenges. Aerogel-infused products – from coatings to stop heat gain from roofs to plasters to insulate the interiors of heritage buildings – would help hard-to-insulate homes get to net zero.
These may soon be available, as start-ups in the UK and France move into commercial aerogel production. The UK has around 8 million homes with solid walls, the vast majority built before the 1920s. Insulating these homes is tricky; many face planning restrictions, which prevent them from adding external cladding, while internal cladding reduces floor space and can cause mould and damp issues.
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