In recent years, aerogel insulation mats have gained popularity for their excellent thermal insulation properties and their potential for use in sustainable development. Aerogels are highly porous materials with low thermal conductivity, making them ideal insulators. The use of aerogel felts as insulation is a promising alternative. For example, it has the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption of buildings and reduce carbon emissions. In the following we will illustrate the sustainability of aerogel insulation felts with examples of applications in construction.

Several studies have investigated the sustainability of aerogel insulating felt and their potential use in building applications. One study ^[22] evaluated the environmental impact of aerogel-based insulation materials compared to traditional insulation materials. The study found that aerogel-based insulation materials had a lower environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and resource depletion.

Another study ^[23] evaluated the performance of aerogel-based felt in reducing energy consumption in buildings. The study found that the use of aerogel-based felt resulted in a significant reduction in energy consumption for heating and cooling, with a potential reduction in energy use of up to 33%. Another similar study conducted experimentally validated simulations to understand the benefits of using silica aerogel as a thermal insulator in residential applications. Due to the properties of aerogel, it has the potential to be used as an insulator for walls and windows ^[24]. The results showed that single-family homes using half-inch wall aerogel insulation and window aerogel insulation saved an average of 20.9% kWh compared to conventional insulation. Energy loss through windows was reduced by 39.1% when aerogel insulation was used compared to standard insulation. Energy loss through the walls of the house was reduced by an average of 13.3% when a thin layer of aerogel insulation was used ^[25]. While a thin layer of aerogel insulation can be beneficial when used on the walls of a house, the potential savings per quantity used in the windows are much greater.

Figure 14. The inset shows an image of the post-heat-treated sample placed on top of a piece of white paper, onto which has been photocopied a logo of the Union College Nott Memorial building.

Furthermore, research has also been conducted to optimize the production process of aerogels, which can have a significant impact on their sustainability ^[26], proposing a sustainable approach to fabricating aerogel felt by using agricultural waste materials as the raw material source. This approach not only reduces the cost of production but also contributes to the sustainable use of agricultural waste.

In conclusion, aerogel insulation felt shows great potential in terms of sustainability due to its excellent thermal insulation properties and low environmental impact compared to conventional insulation materials. However, more research is needed to further optimize their production processes and to evaluate their long-term sustainability in applications. We will continue to focus on research in this area to ensure the sustainability of the material.