Take the building above for example. This is High Wray Village Hall in the beautiful, but often cold, Lake District. With a solid wall there is no cavity to fill so what are the options? External wall insulation can be completed but it is expensive and would have a negative impact on the character of the building. However, internal wall insulation is now available. Thermal lining will reduce heat loss without altering the appearance of the historical building.
Specifically, NEA is working with products using ‘aerogel,’ a material originally developed by NASA. It is very thin, lightweight and can bring significant energy saving and thermal comfort. It is currently quite an expensive option, but NEA is working with a variety of partners to make this and other products a more viable option.
With good insulation, High Wray Village Hall also installed an air-source heat pump to make their net electricity usage more efficient.
Even cavity wall insulation is not straight forward. Current products are only suitable for cavities that are 50mm or more, but many homes have ‘sub-50mm cavities.’ NEA is currently working with manufacturers and other partners to develop cost-effective solutions for these properties.