In energy-saving retrofits of existing buildings and industrial systems, the selection of insulation materials is often constrained by factors such as limited space, complex construction conditions, and the need for uninterrupted production. Against this backdrop, aerogel, as a novel high-performance insulation material, is increasingly demonstrating its application value. The following analysis examines the application value of aerogel in energy-saving retrofits from the perspectives of energy-saving effect, retrofit adaptability, and overall benefits.

First, the most prominent advantage of aerogel in energy-saving retrofits lies in its high-efficiency insulation and thin-layer implementation. Aerogel has an extremely low thermal conductivity, requiring a significantly smaller thickness than traditional insulation materials to achieve the same energy-saving goals. This characteristic is particularly important in space-constrained areas such as exterior walls, equipment rooms, and pipe corridors of existing buildings, enabling effective heat loss control without significantly altering the original structural dimensions.

Second, minimal impact on the existing structure is a key reason why aerogel is suitable for energy-saving retrofits. Traditional insulation retrofits often require adding thicker insulation layers, potentially affecting building facades, pipe layouts, or equipment maintenance space. Aerogel felts or composite panels, however, are thin and lightweight, allowing for retrofits without increasing structural load and minimizing interference with the original system. Third, aerogel exhibits significant adaptability in the renovation of complex and irregularly shaped areas. Common problems in energy-saving renovation projects include dense piping, complex component shapes, and numerous interfaces. Aerogel felt, with its good flexibility, is easy to cut and apply, effectively covering elbows, flanges, and irregularly shaped equipment surfaces, reducing the formation of cold and thermal bridges, thereby improving overall energy efficiency.

Fourth, from a long-term energy-saving perspective, aerogel helps reduce operational energy consumption. Its stable insulation performance can maintain the designed energy-saving level for a longer period, reducing energy consumption rebound caused by insulation performance degradation. For building and industrial systems with long operating cycles, the energy-saving value of aerogel is even more pronounced throughout its entire life cycle.

Fifth, short construction cycles and minimal disruption are also advantages of aerogel in energy-saving renovations. Compared to the removal, reinforcement, and reconstruction processes of thick insulation materials, aerogel construction is relatively simplified, making it particularly suitable for projects requiring uninterrupted production or phased renovations, helping to shorten construction cycles and reduce indirect costs.

However, it should also be noted that the application of aerogel in energy-saving renovations is often accompanied by higher initial material costs. Therefore, its value assessment should be based on a comprehensive perspective, combining energy-saving effects, space saving, construction difficulty, and subsequent maintenance costs, rather than solely relying on the unit price of the material.

Overall, the application value of aerogel in energy-saving renovations mainly lies in "achieving high-efficiency energy saving within limited spaces." In renovation projects with high energy-saving requirements, limited space, or sensitivity to the impact on existing structures, aerogel can provide technical solutions that are difficult to achieve with traditional insulation materials, making it a high-performance material choice with practical significance in the field of energy-saving renovations.