Empa shows the advantages of high-performance insulating materials
A research team from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) has illustrated the potential of high-performance insulating materials. Thinner materials such as aerogels already pay for themselves from a square meter price of 8,000 francs.
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research ( Empa ) have investigated when an investment in costly high-performance insulating materials such as aerogels can be worthwhile for builders. According to a media release , the 25 most expensive cities in Europe, North America and Asia were initially compared. The research team found out that the lucrative area gain through the more expensive aerogels at a square meter price of more than 8000 francs exceeds the additional costs of the thinner insulation variant.
The reason given is that high-performance insulation achieves the same insulating effect as conventional mineral wool, but only requires half to a quarter of the material used. Against the background of rising real estate prices and dense construction in cities, high-performance insulating materials such as aerogels could promote economical construction. Because the thinner the outer shell of a building, the more space is available inside.
The economic advantages calculated using an equation could have been shown in the 15 most expensive cities – including the four Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva, Lugano and Basel with the highest prices per square meter in Europe. Amortization was determined in the 14 most expensive cities in North America and in the ten most expensive cities in Asia. The knowledge could also support future planners when deciding on the appropriate insulation material.