Thus, silica aerogel has been chosen as a main thermal insulation material to be used in the retrofit of the building components. References:
http://www.thermablok.co.uk/products/thermabloksp-aerogel-blanket
http://www.thermablok.co.uk/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2012/07/thermabloksptechdata.pdf
http://aerogels.en.ec21.com/Aerogel_Thermal_Insulation_Panels-4177198_4177258.html
http://www.aerogel.com/products/pdf/Pyrogel_6650_DS.pdf
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-solids-d_154.html
2.4.6 Walls
The wall insulating materials are to be added to the base concrete material in order to improve thermal insulation of the building as well as minimizing indirect solar heat gains. The various combinations of materials could be chosen and added either on the inside or outside of the building surfaces. Ideally, the addition of insulating layers to the external wall surfaces should be considered in order to have a little/no effect on the spaces inside the building.
The external and internal wall finishes are to be reflecting. This is to do with lowering indirect solar heat gains and maximising lighting levels inside the building respectively. Those materials/finishes typically are light in colours and provide good reflectance.
Because the night-to-day temperature swing is rather small, materials with high thermal mass (high heat-storage capacity) are of little benefit, but they can be used to minimize indirect solar heat gain effect to the inside of building.
Thus, the retrofitting of the wall materials considers:
A good thermal insulation
A good indirect solar energy shading
A well designed finishes for improved lighting levels and comfort 38
