Aerogel Felt: The Cornerstone of Next-Generation Passive Houses & Ultra-Low Energy Buildings

Aerogel Felt: The Cornerstone of Next-Generation Passive Houses & Ultra-Low Energy Buildings

Passive ultra-low energy buildings represent a pivotal direction for sustainable architecture. However, most current thermal insulation systems are designed for 75% energy-saving standards, making them insufficient for the >90% performance required by true passive construction.
Organic materials like extruded and expanded polystyrene (XPS/EPS) offer solid thermal resistance but pose major fire risks. Inorganic materials such as perlite boards are flame-retardant but lack sufficient insulation performance and add excessive weight. The industry urgently needs materials that combine high thermal resistance, non-combustibility, eco-friendliness, and minimal thickness—qualities that aerogel felt delivers with excellence.

Aerogel Felt: A Disruptive Insulation Material for the Low-Carbon Era
Nicknamed “solid smoke,” aerogel felt brings a revolutionary mix of properties to the construction industry:

• Extremely low thermal conductivity — 0.020 W/(m·K) at 25°C (GB/T 10295-2008)
• Superior fire resistance — A1 non-combustible (GB 8624-2012: mass loss 2.1%, furnace temp rise 2°C, no sustained burning)
• Eco-friendly & lightweight — 99.7% hydrophobicity (GB/T 10299-2011), halogen- and asbestos-free, 90% recyclable, vibration mass loss 0.3% (GB/T 34336-2017)
• High mechanical strength — tensile strength 1255 kPa transverse / 414 kPa longitudinal (GB/T 17911-2006)

Recent breakthroughs in domestic atmospheric-pressure synthesis have significantly lowered costs and risks, enabling widespread application in green building projects.
Key product formats from Hebei Woqin:

• Aerogel thermal insulation coatings — proven through outdoor environmental testing, especially effective in hot-summer, warm-winter regions, reflecting solar radiation and minimizing indoor heat gain.
• Aerogel composite non-combustible insulation boards — A2-grade fire resistance, low bulk density, ease of installation, solving common problems like water absorption, delamination, and cracking seen in traditional materials—helping buildings achieve true ultra-low energy performance.

Global Case Studies: Proving Economic and Practical Value1. Zurich, Switzerland: Maximizing Space, Maximizing Profit
In Zurich, an aerogel-insulated façade reduced wall thickness from 20 cm to 14 cm — creating 30 m² of extra usable space. With local housing prices factored in, the added real estate value exceeded material costs, generating a profit of 247,000 Swiss francs.

2. Shanghai Book City: Interior Retrofit with Climate and Carbon Gains
By using a 2 cm aerogel insulation paste paired with reflective coatings, the project achieved excellent thermal performance with just a fraction of the space traditional materials would require. Carbon emissions were only ½ to ⅓ of rock wool systems—balancing space, performance, and sustainability.

3. Shijiazhuang, China: Integrating Aerogel into Passive Housing
In a landmark project led by Hebei Woqin, aerogel felt was combined with vacuum insulation panels and rigid polyurethane spacers. This integration significantly improved the envelope’s thermal resistance while meeting fire safety standards. The project has become a benchmark for green building in northern China, showcasing how aerogel can merge energy conservation with real-world safety requirements.

Frontier Research: The Rise of All-Biomass Aerogels
Innovative work by the Sichuan University team has yielded a next-generation, all-biomass aerogel made from gelatin and DNA:

• Radiative cooling: converts UV light to visible light, enhancing solar reflectivity and reducing outdoor surface temperatures by up to 16°C
• Self-repairing surface: water-mediated interfaces allow for large-scale fabrication and easy maintenance
• Sustainable and safe: flame-retardant and biodegradable, offering a blueprint for truly circular building materials

This breakthrough expands aerogel’s potential from thermal insulation into climate-responsive, sustainable building skin design.

Conclusion: Aerogel Felt as the Cornerstone of Future Architecture
From profit-driven projects in Zurich to carbon-reducing retrofits in Shanghai and landmark passive houses in Hebei, aerogel felt is steadily moving from laboratory innovation to mainstream architectural application. Its unmatched combination of thermal insulation, fire resistance, and sustainability meets the evolving global demand for green buildings.
While its widespread adoption in exterior walls is still growing, advancements in building standards and quality control systems are paving the way for aerogel felt to become a staple in construction.
Aerogel felt is not merely an advanced material—it is a guardian of safe, sustainable, and beautiful living environments. By building stronger, lighter, and greener, it redefines what it means to live responsibly in the 21st century.

Take Action: Bring Aerogel Felt to Your Passive House Project
Whether you are designing a new ultra-low energy building, retrofitting existing structures, or developing next-generation green architecture, Hebei Woqin’s aerogel felt delivers unmatched thermal performance, fire safety, and design freedom.

Contact us today to:

• Download the “Aerogel Felt for Passive House & Ultra-Low Energy Buildings Guide” (free).
• Request a tailored U-value calculation and lifecycle cost analysis for your project.
• Schedule a 20-minute consultation with our passive-house insulation specialists for custom solutions.

Ruibin An
Hebei Woqin Trading Co., Ltd.
Phone/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 139 3392 9092
Email: an@cn-aerogel.com
Website: insulatewool.com

We specialize in advanced insulation solutions for 12 years. We partner with serious architectural and energy-efficiency projects that demand verifiable performance and true sustainability.