Cold Climates Enjoying Warm Lighting

Many daylighting projects, using Kalwall with LumiraTM aerogel insulation (previously called Nanogel), are increasingly being specified by public and private sector architects in colder regions, such as Scotland and beyond. This makes the high performance insulation of translucent walls and roofs and the conservation of energy particularly important.

Recent Kalwall + Lumira aerogel projects in Scotland, supplied and fixed by SD Systems, include a sports hall at Aberdeen Grammar School, the Rainbow nursery for childcare, a student dining-room extension at Turriff Academy (image) and refurbishment of the swimming-pool at Andrew Carnegie leisure centre. Further north and one of the most extreme examples is the remote Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska's interior.

Lumira aerogel, the world’s lightest and best insulating solid, dramatically increases thermal insulation with U values as low as 0.28W/m2K. Used within the Kalwall translucent cladding and rooflighting system, this means that architects and designers can now create large areas of daylighting in walls and roofs, which can be as energy efficient as an insulated solid wall. In addition, the natural light diffusing performance and elimination of stark contrasts of glare and shadow creates a soft, evenly diffused museum-quality light which creates a high comfort level for occupants, while reducing the running costs of air-conditioning, heating and artificial lighting.