Efficiency is An Easy Way to Save Energy

You can spend all the money you want on new technology. There's no lack of opportunities. But, investing in efficiency to save existing energy is probably cheaper. For starters, there's the old 80/20 rule. Basically, that you can expect to spend more to save money on the last 20% of energy savings. It's because it's cheaper to be efficient on the first 80% and expensive to be efficient for the last 20%.

The point here is to say it can be easier to save capital if you switch to a different technology to save energy at the last 20%. We've been making thin insulation coating since 2011. We didn't know why it worked when we were introduced to it in 2004. Only that it acted as thin insulation using only 0.5mm/20 mils to 2.5mm/100 mils.

Now we know that by replacing most heavy fillers (titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate powder) with hollow ceramic micro-beads, we can obtain a 0.1176 K value. Not that impressive. But, because "paint" isn't thermally degraded by moisture content like mass-based materials, that's an insulation factor that stands up to rain and resists ambient humidity-based degradation.

Because traditional insulations are often measured at 0% humidity and more mass is equated to more insulation value based on a linear measurement, it's a confusing rating system. In the real world there's water vapor in the air (ambient humidity) and that reduces insulation value in traditional materials like fiberglass or rock wool blankets. And since most moisture stays in those materials until they're heated to about 316F/158C, their K value is seriously degraded. We also know that the 3rd or 4th inch of insulation blanket doesn't work as efficiently as the first inch.

Insulation is a boring subject. But, energy efficiency is a valuable trait. So it's worth staying awake to understand a few basic concepts like 80/20 and using simple technology.