US: Three US-based companies, Birdair of Amherst (New York), Cabot Corp of Billerica (Massachusetts) and Geiger Engineers of Suffern (New York), have jointly developed an architectural fabric that they claim boasts the most effective insulation available anywhere in the world.
Their development, Tensotherm, is Birdair's architectural fabric and can now be supplied with additional layers of aerogel-filled nonwoven blankets, the aerogel used being Cabot's Lumira.
The companies say that the insulation reduces energy consumption and the costs associated with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Moreover, the insulation does not lose its effectiveness or deteriorate over time or under compression, as is the case with traditional materials.
The use of the Lumira aerogel also improves acoustic properties and greatly reduces a building's lifecycle costs, according to Cabot. Its performance means that architects and designers can now exploit large areas of daylight within walls and roofs, which can be as energy-efficient as an insulated solid wall. In addition, the natural light-diffusing performance and elimination of glare creates a soft interior light.
Cabot's Aerogel Global Business Manager, James Satterwhite said, "Energy efficiency and sustainability are paramount in every architect's design and thought process. Coupled with that is the realisation that high-level lifecycle performance and cost savings, particularly with the unpredictability of energy prices, are vital. Over the next decade, we expect that high-performance insulation systems will become increasingly common as specifiers seek to meet or exceed increasingly strict building regulations."
Photo courtesy: Birdair,Inc
