Recent developments in high-tech wallpaper may mean more energy efficient homes being seen around the globe, helping to cut energy leakage without the excessive costs typically associated with major remodeling projects. The wallpaper, developed by German-based Saarpor company, comes in both roll and tile form and is embedded with graphite particles that can reflect heat both back into or out of the home (as the case may be in either the summer or winter). By making this commercially available this could effectively mean a low-cost, low-invasive solution to many older homes that have been suffering from poor insulation in the past yet homeowners have been either unable or unwilling to renovate due to either time or cost concerns.

On the technical side of things it is reported that approximately 4mm (a little more than 1/8 of an inch) of the wallpaper could provide roughly the same insulating power as 68mm (3 inches) of brick walls or alternatively 210mm (8 inches) of solid concrete. In R-value ratings, the standard used for determining the overall insulating capabilities of a particular substance, that would make this wallpaper fall somewhere between 0.44 and 0.8.

While of course proper insulation is not the only solution for all of our current energy needs at the same time it can help significantly reduce the overall costs associated with energy leakage and help reduce the overall energy draw in many areas, particularly those with older developments that have previously been poorly insulated against both cold and heat. Due to the ease of installation and relative low production cost it is expected to be popular with apartment owners as well that have little to no control over their exterior wall insulation conditions.

Be sure to check with specific home retail shops in your area for the availability of insulating wallpaper for your home as well as specific costs that may be associated with it as prices can vary from location to location due to logistics and availability.

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