Synthetically producing amorphous silica gel and then infusing it into a fabric creates what many buyers know as aerogel insulation according to one distributor’s website. Amorphous silica appears on state hazardous substance lists for California and New Jersey....
Sustainability
What role does R-Value play in your energy-saving strategy?
If you’re trying to conserve energy through insulation, then choosing insulation material with a high R-Value is a critical component for your strategy. But what is R-Value? According to Meriam-Webster’s online dictionary, R-Value is “a measure of resistance to the...
The ‘known unknowns’ and ‘known knowns’ of insulation material
Traditional insulation material consists of fiberglass, mineral wool, foam glass, cellular glass, and calcium silicate (i.e., aerogel). Along with these materials, facility owners and builders often use jacketing materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, and PVC....
Insulation blankets fight energy loss
One of the most reliable ways for energy managers and plant operators to reduce energy consumption is by installing insulation blankets on steam lines. When carrying out routine maintenance, workers often remove this insulation. So, experts including the U.S....
The federal government has been a leader in sustainability if you consider reusable thermal insulation
President Biden is ordering federal agencies to kick into high gear on sustainability; and, to meet the president’s directive, federal managers should double down on energy conservation through insulation by including removable and reusable thermal insulation blankets...
Thermal insulation’s effect on your carbon footprint, lending and profitability
Should thermal insulation be part of a strategy for reducing your facility’s carbon footprint? Some banks in Europe are starting to screen borrowers more carefully about their carbon footprint. Will North American banks soon take a closer look at facility owners’...
Like LEED, Shannon builds to an insulation standard that reduces energy use and GHGs
According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, “LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.” The USGBC also notes, “A 2014 UC Berkeley study found that by building to LEED standards,...
Our History of Energy Conservation Through Insulation
For 40 years, I’ve been in the energy conservation business. I started as a technical representative, supporting a fabrication, manufacturing division; I also worked for a mechanical insulation distributor, contractor, and fabricator. These where the beginning days of...
An under-the-radar approach to sustainability
Many companies (and managers) eagerly look for the next gadget (e.g., new electricity storage devices) or technology (e.g., low-cost solar mini-grid system) to enhance sustainability. But in doing so, they can overlook some under-the-radar approaches to achieving...
What Attributes Make Insulation Blankets Truly Reusable?
For maintenance workers to install an insulation blanket that’s truly reusable, they need to look for certain attributes that allow them to remove the blanket from a valve or steam trap and easily replace it in the same position after performing repairs or service on...