An insulation material developed for NASA's space shuttles can save energy here on Earth. Conventional insulation is placed between the structural beams of walls, called studs, but the studs themselves provide a conduit for heat to leak out. Adding Thermablok to the edges of the studs can increase the thermal insulation of a wall by 30 percent. The original material, an aerogel made of fragile silica, was treated with polyester fibers to boost its flexibility without compromising its thermal properties.

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