Superinsulation

Superinsulation

Superinsulation refers to the use of highly effective insulation materials and techniques in a building envelope to significantly reduce heat losses and increase thermal resistance, thereby preventing heat from escaping and improving energy efficiency. It is often combined with airtightness measures to further enhance its effectiveness.From: Strategies for ideal indoor environments towards low/zero carbon buildings through a biomimetic approach [2019], Passive Solar Architecture Pocket Reference [2018]

Passive heating techniques

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Published in David Thorpe, Passive Solar Architecture Pocket Reference, 2018

David Thorpe

For heating buildings in cooler climates or seasons solar heat is absorbed by allowing sunlight to enter through glazing (preferably clean and of a high standard, see 4.2 Windows). It should fall onto dark-coloured thermally massive materials (e.g. ceramic tiles laid onto concrete/hemcrete). This heats them up during the day. During the night they release their heat into the internal space, thereby moderating extremes of temperature. Good use of thermal mass and the stack effect help to store heat and transmit it to areas not directly heated by the sun. Superinsulation and airtightness in the building help to prevent the heat from escaping.

Strategies for ideal indoor environments towards low/zero carbon buildings through a biomimetic approach

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Published in International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2019

Erdem Cuce, Zaid Nachan, Pinar Mert Cuce, Farooq Sher, Gareth B. Neighbour

Thermal superinsulation-based solutions are proposed to be utilised in a building envelope to maximise thermal resistance and minimise heat losses across the building facade. An especially modified aerogel blanket with insulative fibres inspired by the skin of pole bears is considered for external wall insulation of Mumbai buildings. Highly thermally resistive glazing technologies are also introduced to reduce energy loss from the glazed areas by taking the composite fat layers of water animals as a model.

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Passive heating techniques

Strategies for ideal indoor environments towards low/zero carbon buildings through a biomimetic approach