The RESGELECO project, conducted by CTCON and the Norwegian University of Applied Sciences Østfold (HIOF), aims to develop aerogels and derivative products from waste materials that are affordable and have a low environmental impact. Due to their excellent characteristics, aerogels can be used in the construction sector to enhance insulation and energy efficiency in buildings.

An aerogel is an extremely lightweight, highly porous material with much higher thermal resistance than conventional insulating materials. Therefore, its use is very beneficial for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, leading to economic savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Additionally, aerogels allow for very high insulation values using thin thicknesses, making them particularly suitable for the restoration of historical and heritage buildings where appearance should not be altered.

However, conventional aerogels often come with high economic and environmental costs, making it a priority to seek circular economy solutions and more eco-efficient manufacturing processes, utilizing waste and bio-based resources as raw materials. The raw materials being studied for their high potential include rice husk ash, recycled diatomite, and cellulose fibers.

In this project, the proposed products for containing the developed aerogels include a window, a specially designed coating mortar for rehabilitation projects, and a multi-layer opaque closure. All of these elements already contribute to maintaining good hygrothermal comfort conditions in buildings, and therefore, their performance can be enhanced by incorporating high-performance insulation like aerogel.

Interest in aerogels continues to grow both in academia and industry. RESGELECO is motivated to provide greater knowledge about this product, promote the adoption of this technology, and foster the emergence of new research lines and business initiatives related to the construction sector.

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