If YETI can make a cup that keeps water cold or hot for hours and a cooler that holds ice for hours, then why aren’t we building houses with that same material?

Question

If YETI can make a cup that keeps water cold or hot for hours and a cooler that holds ice for hours, then why aren’t we building houses with that same material?

In: 824

Answer 1

Lots of houses have insulation, but it’s not as simple as a thermos. With a thermos there’s one opening with an airtight cap and the bottle itself is fully opaque. Its goal is simply to prevent as much heat transfer between inside and outside as possible. Houses have multiple doors, windows, none of which seal perfectly. They have windows through which to radiate/absorb heat, and their occupants produce heat themselves.