Aerogel Insulation to Offer Efficiency for Older Homes
New production capacity will soon help owners of older homes improve energy efficiency without losing interior space.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Home Cleaning
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Start-ups in the UK and France are ramping up commercial production of aerogel-based insulation for older homes. This technology aims to improve energy efficiency in heritage properties that cannot accommodate traditional, bulky wall insulation.
Why it matters
Heritage homes built before the 1920s often struggle to meet modern efficiency standards due to planning restrictions on external cladding. Aerogels offer a thin, high-performance alternative to help these properties reach net-zero goals without sacrificing interior floor space.
Keey Aerogel secured 18 million euros in venture capital to support a new plant in France with a capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes annually. Meanwhile, Thermulon is targeting a 100-tonne annual output by 2027 to address the needs of the UK's 8 million solid-wall homes.
The players
Thermulon
A developer of aerogel-based construction materials specializing in energy-efficient insulation for heritage buildings.
Keey Aerogel
A manufacturer producing aerogels through sustainable processes using silica waste and recycled solvents.
Best of Lime
A specialist partner working with developers to create aerogel-infused lime plaster for historical restoration.
The details
Aerogels are synthetic solids with extremely high porosity that provide superior thermal insulation and fire resistance in a very thin profile. Thermulon is developing a lime plaster infused with aerogel to simplify application for historic renovations, while Keey Aerogel focuses on circular manufacturing by utilizing silica waste and recycled solvents.
Timeline
Most UK solid-wall homes were constructed prior to the 1920s.
Keey Aerogel secured 18 million euros in capital during 2025.
Thermulon expects to reach 100 tonnes of annual aerogel production capacity by 2027.
The Home Front
Historic buildings often fall outside standard energy-efficiency upgrades due to strict preservation laws. The scaling of aerogel manufacturing represents a significant shift toward making net-zero targets achievable for millions of older, solid-wall homes.
If you live in a property built before the 1920s, monitor your local building supplier for upcoming aerogel-infused plaster products. Consult with a professional renovation contractor to see if these high-performance, thin-profile materials can help improve your home's thermal efficiency.
The takeaway
Aerogel technology is becoming a viable solution for upgrading the energy performance of historic properties without losing interior space. Keep an eye on insulation innovations that use sustainable materials like recycled silica to help meet long-term efficiency goals for older solid-wall homes.
Further reading
For more on optimizing your living space, explore our guide to Home Cleaning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Scientist.
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