--- title: "Aerogel Insulation - GWP and renovation use" canonical_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aerogel markdown_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aerogel.md author: "Fremtidens Tegnestue" page_type: material primary_intent: "Explain use, GWP and renovation relevance for Aerogel Insulation." primary_keyword: "Aerogel Insulation" audience: "Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices." summary: "Aerogel is the world's best insulation material (lowest lambda value). It is an ultra-light, nanoporous silica-based material. Used in thin layers where space is extremely limited, e.g. in listed buildings, window reveals, and light gaps. The price is 5–10x higher than mineral wool, and the carbon footprint is relatively high." source_basis: - "estimatee based on the EN 15804 average" - "Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet: https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet" - "Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method" - "FT source and uncertainty principles: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method" human_validation: "Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs." responsibility_line: "AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences." last_reviewed: 2026-06-24 last_updated: 2026-06-24 privacy_url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy related_pages: - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/mineraluld relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/eps relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/perlit relation: alternative-material - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials relation: hub - url: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca relation: concept status: published --- # Aerogel Insulation - GWP and renovation use Canonical URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aerogel Markdown URL: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aerogel.md Entity type: material Language: en Author: Fremtidens Tegnestue Published: 2026-06-24 Last updated: 2026-06-24 Privacy: https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/privacy ## Short answer Aerogel is the world's best insulation material (lowest lambda value). It is an ultra-light, nanoporous silica-based material. Used in thin layers where space is extremely limited, e.g. in listed buildings, window reveals, and light gaps. The price is 5–10x higher than mineral wool, and the carbon footprint is relatively high. ## Who it is relevant for Homeowners, studios and agents researching material choices. ## What FT can prepare - Summarise material properties, GWP, common uses, renovation relevance and alternatives. ## What the architect validates - Whether the material fits the existing building, detail, durability, moisture and documentation needs. ## Key figures | Metric | Value | | --- | --- | | GWP | 6.5 kg CO₂-eq/kg | | Density | 100–170 kg/m³ | | Expected lifetime | 50+ years | ## Use - Window sills and reveals - Listed buildings with space constraints - Service shafts - Technical installations insulation ## Renovation relevance Aerogel is a niche product for renovation of listed and heritage buildings, where insulation layer thickness is a constraint. It solves problems that no other material can. ## Comparison | Material | GWP | | --- | --- | | Mineral wool | 1.05 | | EPS | 3.29 | | XPS | 4.16 | | Aerogel | 6.5 | ## FAQ ### What is the lambda value of aerogel? Aerogel has a lambda value of approximately 0.013–0.015 W/mK — about twice as good as EPS (0.031) and 3x better than mineral wool (0.035). This means 25 mm aerogel equals approximately 75 mm mineral wool. ### When is aerogel worth the price? Aerogel is only justified when space is an absolute constraint: window sills and reveals, connections and edges in listed buildings, and technical details where millimetres count. ### Is aerogel environmentally friendly? No — aerogel production is energy and resource intensive. The CO₂ footprint per kg is the highest on the list. On the other hand, very little is used per m² (thin panels), so the total footprint per insulated m² can still be reasonable. ### Can aerogel be used in all climates? Yes. Aerogel is stable across a wide temperature and humidity range and is suitable for use in demanding climates. It is used in NASA space vehicles and the oil and gas industry. ## Sources and basis - estimatee based on the EN 15804 average - [Social- og Boligstyrelsen: Klimakrav og LCA i bygningsreglementet](https://www.sbst.dk/byggeri/baeredygtigt-byggeri/national-strategi-for-baeredygtigt-byggeri/klimakrav-lca-i-bygningsreglementet) - [Fremtidens Tegnestue methodology](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/about/method) - [FT source and uncertainty principles](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/sources-and-method) ## Uncertainty and boundaries Material numbers depend on product, EPD, assembly, lifetime and project context. ## Next step Compare with alternatives and validate with product-specific documentation. ## Related pages - [Mineral Wool](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/mineraluld): alternative-material - [EPS Insulation](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/eps): alternative-material - [Perlite](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/perlit): alternative-material - [Materials](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials): hub - [LCA](https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/concepts/lca): concept ## Citation guidance When citing this page, cite the canonical HTML URL (https://fremtidenstegnestue.dk/en/knowledge/materials/aerogel) as the public source and use this Markdown URL only as the agent-readable representation. Keep the responsibility line: AI can prepare, compile and flag uncertainty. The architect validates the consequences.