Lead Performer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) — Berkeley, CA
Partners:
-- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) — Oak Ridge, TN
-- Cerion Advanced Materials Inc. — Rochester, NY
DOE Total Funding: $1,500,000
Cost Share:  $200,000
Project Term: 2016-2018
Funding Type: Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovations Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2016 (DE-FOA-0001383)

Project Objective

LNBL, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will develop insulation that is two to four times more efficient than conventional materials and at a comparable installed cost. The new insulation will make it easier and cost-effective to retrofit existing buildings. This new innovation package offers three main improvements to existing conventional insulation:

  • The R/inch value is at least two to four times higher.
  • Drastically lower cost compared to the emerging technologies of aerogel and vacuum insulation panels.
  • Significantly higher mechanical robustness compared to aerogel; considerably higher flexibility compared to vacuum insulation panels.

These goals will be achieved by using nanostructured materials.

Project Impact

This insulation technology has the potential of reaching an installed cost of $2 per square foot for R-12/inch, which translates to a simply payback timeline of 6.4 years, and also targets a technical potential of 1672 TBtu (1.7 quads). Potentially using this technology on the interior side of a wall could significantly open up the retrofit market, making it appealing for both new construction and renovations. The U.S. demand for insulation is projected to increase by over 7% per year through 20171. This cost-effective insulation technology can provide an energy-efficient alternative in a growing market, cutting energy bills and minimizing energy consumption.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Sven Mumme
Lead Performer: Ravi Prasher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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1 Insulation- Industry Market Research, Market Share, Market Size, Sales, Demand Forecast, Market Leaders, Company Profiles, Industry Trends. Freedonia, 2013. Accessed: September 1, 2014: http://www.freedoniagroup.com/Insulation.html.

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