Grantee Research Project Results
2013 Progress Report: Rice Hulls as Alternative Building (RHAB): Productive Use of Agricultural Waste
EPA Grant Number: SU835294Title: Rice Hulls as Alternative Building (RHAB): Productive Use of Agricultural Waste
Investigators: Williams, Michael , Dahlgren, John
Current Investigators: Williams, Michael , Feher, Stephen I.
Institution: Butte College
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: August 15, 2012 through August 14, 2014
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 15, 2012 through August 14,2013
Project Amount: $81,612
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2012) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The objective of the RHAB Project is to develop thermally and structurally efficient, costeffective building materials utilizing agricultural and commercial waste materials. The RHAB concept was initiated as an appropriate, environmentally acceptable disposal of agricultural waste, in this case, rice hulls and straw which are left behind in huge quantities after harvesting and processing rice produced in Northern California and other rice producing areas in the United States and around the World. The traditional disposal of these waste products by burning or burying, result in large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Progress Summary:
A few highlights of our accomplishments:
- Successful development of rice hull substrate mixture incorporating cement, rice hulls and postconsumer use extruded polypropylene structure (EPS) foam – transition from Phase I results
- Development of test samples 2’x2’x3” and initial structural testing
- Design and construction of a 5’x5’x5’ test cell for thermal transmission and resistance testing
- Destructive testing of initial sample set for compressions and shear
- Research and development of test protocols incorporating ASTM standards
Future Activities:
Work is underway to re-configure existing facilities to allow for the large volume of materials that will be necessary to bring our small-scale samples to full-scale construction materials needed in the Year 2 portion of the schedule. Instruments and equipment specific to the success of this project have been specified and orders are under way. Butte College Business Services Accounting has been instrumental in getting the principle investigator to a new and thorough understanding of the requirements of EPA and the internal business policies and procedures.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Rice hulls, rice hull insulated rastra block, SIP's, concrete insulated formsProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Rice Hulls as Alternative Building (RHAB) Project | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.