The buildings in Europe are an energy problem — and at the same time a huge opportunity. 75% of the existing building stock is considered energy inefficient. At the same time, EPBD regulations, the EU taxonomy, and rising financing costs are increasing the pressure on property owners.
Energy-efficient renovation is no longer optional. It has become a necessity — both ecologically and economically.
External insulation (EIFS or ETICS) is the most wide-spread solution. But what happens when external insulation is not possible?
When the façade is off-limits
❌ Heritage protection.
❌ Limited property boundaries.
❌ Complex ownership structures in multi-unit buildings
In practice, energy optimization often fails because of the building envelope.
This is where interior insulation comes into play. For a long time, however, it had a difficult reputation:
⚠️ Interventions in living spaces
⚠️ Loss of usable floor area
⚠️ Building physics risks such as condensation and mold
But modern materials such as aerogels are changing the rules of the game.
Aerogel: Maximum performance with minimal thickness
Aerogels are among the most advanced insulation materials in the world. With their extremely low thermal conductivity, they allow significantly thinner insulation layers while delivering the same — or even better — performance than conventional materials.
In practical terms, this means:
✅ Less loss of interior space
✅ High energy efficiency even with just 1–2 cm of insulation
✅ Significantly reduced heat loss
✅ Better compatibility with sensitive building structures
When it comes to interior insulation, every centimeter matters. The first millimeters deliver the largest effect — and this is exactly where aerogels excel.
Three solution approaches for different requirements
Aerogel insulating render
Ideal for uneven substrates and heritage buildings. Aerogel insulation render is easy and fast to apply e.g. using render spraying machines and highly effective. This is why it is becoming a very popular solution for energetic renovation. We are developing solutions based on our highly innovative biomineral silica aerogel. Recent pilot tests were positive.
Polymer aerogel panels
Our polyurethane aerogel SLENTITE is robust, easy to handle, and capillary-active — particularly suitable for demanding detail areas such as window reveals. A wide range of projects have benefitted from the problem-solving power of SLENTITE.
Silica aerogel solutions
Silica aerogel blankets such as Oryza BGT have extremely low thermal conductivity, hydrophobic properties, and the highest fire protection class — especially effective in multilayer constructions. Silica aerogel blankets can be used as is or as multilayer boards.
If you would like to discuss the right solution for your project, please get in touch with us.
Renovation as a value strategy
Buildings that remain unrenovated increasingly risk declining asset values and higher financing costs.
Energy-efficient renovation is therefore not only about climate protection — it is also about portfolio management.
Interior insulation with high-performance materials opens up new opportunities for buildings that were previously considered difficult to renovate.
The existing European building stock represents the largest energy efficiency project of our time.
And the technology to achieve it is already available.
