New Aerospace Technology, 'Aerogel,' the Highest Insulating Material in Existence,...

New Aerospace Technology, 'Aerogel,' the Highest Insulating Material in
Existence, Now Available to the Building Industry

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- With energy costs continually on the
rise and taking its toll on the world population and the environment, the need
for energy conservation has never been greater. It is estimated that 40% of
our energy is used controlling the temperature in buildings. Of this, over 30%
escapes from the building primarily through the conventionally insulated walls
metal or wood studs in a process termed Thermal Bridging.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090112/CLM022
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070118/CLTH007LOGO-a )

Taking the newly discovered Aerogel insulation technology developed by
NASA, which is the highest insulating material in existence, Thermablok(TM)
developed an amazing product that may soon become a requirement in the
building industry. Aerogel, also referred to as "frozen smoke," has been
difficult to adapt to most uses because of its fragility. The patented
Thermablok material however overcomes this by using a unique fiber to suspend
a proprietary formula of Aerogel such that it can be bent or compressed while
still retaining its amazing insulation properties.
Now available to the building industry, just one 1/4" x 1-1/2" (6.25mm x
38mm) strip of Thermablok(TM) added to each stud in a wall before drywall,
breaks the "thermal bridging" and can increase the thermal insulation factor
of a wall by over 40%!
While sounding too good to be true, for something so simple to produce
such incredible results, the figures are substantiated by the U.S. Department
of Energy's Oak Ridge Laboratory and J.M. Laboratory. They compared two
identical (metal stud/drywall) walls; one with one strip of the material on
each 2x4 stud edge (one side only) and the second wall without the material.
The results were amazing. A 1/4" of the material increased the insulation
factor by 30% and 3/8" increased the insulation factor by an amazing 42%.
Thermablok(TM) was developed by the international acoustical research
company Acoustiblok(R). Mark Nothstine, head of Research and Development at
Acoustiblok stated, "Thermal transmission is greater through solid objects,
and of course, the least through air or a vacuum. Thus, in a regular wood or
metal stud wall, the area that continues to conduct thermally are the studs
which mechanically connect one side of a wall to the other. On an infrared
thermal test of a wall, the studs show up very clearly as the points of
conductivity. Thermal bridging is the prime energy loss in a building. As the
Thermablok(TM) Aerogel material is 95% air, and is between the stud and the
drywall, it breaks the mechanical connection (thermal bridging) exceptionally
well."
NASA has been developing Aerogel insulation technology for several years,
using it on the space shuttle, space suits, and for many other advanced
insulation requirements, including the last Mars mission. This technology has
the potential to revolutionize energy conservation. As recently reported on
the "Science Channel," Aerogel will be the breakthrough in building energy
conserving buildings.
Nothstine also stated, "The thermal increases achieved with Thermablok
will provide continuing energy cost and environmental savings. As an example;
a Midwest residential home, 2,400 sqft with 16" on center stud framing, R13
insulation and wood siding should result in a $746 per year in energy cost
savings with a reduction of 3.9 tons of CO2 emissions. Add to this the many
tax deductions offered by the government and you should recover your entire
cost in the first year."
C.E.O. & Founder of Acoustiblok, Lahnie Johnson, who has worked in the
Aerospace industry is very enthusiastic about their new product, which is an
extension of the company's already environmentally friendly product,
Acoustiblok. Johnson takes pride in developing products that are not only
environmentally friendly, but also energy conserving. He said, "The
applications of this product are endless. It solves major energy conservation
issues in conventional construction as well as increasing privacy through
increased acoustic performance. Considering that over 50% of energy in the
U.S. is used within buildings (not transportation), Thermablok(TM) has the
capability to drastically alter our expectations on energy conservation and
CO2 emissions."
Johnson believes in conserving energy versus producing more. Stating,
"Real energy conservation is far better and less expensive than producing more
for that which is wasted. Thermablok's technology couldn't have come at a
better time."
Review of Benefits:
-- Very significant saving in energy costs
-- 100% recyclable
-- Contains no ozone depleting substances
-- Uses >30% recycled content
-- Composite material consisting of over 95% air
-- Hydrophobic, unaffected by moisture, mold or water
-- Easily applied via stick-on-back
-- "Class A" fire rated
-- Economical
-- Virtually no weight means low cost (& low emissions) shipping
-- Adds acoustical isolation
-- Not affected by age as it does not react with moisture of the
atmosphere
-- Made in USA

Press Release Contact: Cindy Taliaferro
Cindy@acoustiblok.com
1+ 813.980.1400

SOURCE Acoustiblok, Inc.

Cindy Taliaferro of Acoustiblok, Inc., +1-813-980-1400, Cindy@acoustiblok.com