insulation

(Newser) - President Obama set up his official podium at Home Depot today to pitch what some are calling his “cash for caulkers” program. Obama wants Congress to give consumers cash incentives to make their homes more energy-efficient. “I know the idea may not be very glamorous, although I get...

(Newser) - A revolutionary house design from Germany keeps inhabitants warm in winter with about as much energy as it takes to run a hairdryer, the New York Times reports. The "passive house" is sealed with ultrathick insulation. A central ventilation system exchanges warm air from inside with cold air from...

(Newser) - Rice husks might be the key to lowering electricity use, bomb-proofing buildings and making products—from airplanes to tennis rackets—lighter. A Malaysian scientist says she’s found a cheap way to create aerogel, the world’s lightest solid, from discarded rice husks. The material combines incredible insulating power and...