Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Development and Demonstration of a Low Embodied Energy, Construction Material that Replaces Expanded Polystyrene and Other Synthetic Materials
EPA Contract Number: EPD10058Title: Development and Demonstration of a Low Embodied Energy, Construction Material that Replaces Expanded Polystyrene and Other Synthetic Materials
Investigators: McIntyre, Gavin
Small Business: Ecovative Design, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2012
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Green Buildings
Description:
Development and demonstration of structural insulating panels comprised of a mycological biomaterial and oriented strand board.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
The structural insulating panels comprised of Ecovative's biomaterial core bound to the OSB laminates with mycelium are comparable, or out-perform, the synthetic state of the art (EPS). Ecovative will be collaborating with industry partners, both domestically and internationally, to verify the measurements in application. Although the panels have been grown in small batches for this development project, this technology fits into Ecovative's distributed manufacturing system that is presently growing protective packaging products. Current manufacturing economics, and the potential to remove the expanding glue requirement, will allow Ecovative to introduce the construction biomaterial at a price point comparable to synthetic foams.
Supplemental Keywords:
SBIR Phase I:
Testing the Viability of Agricultural Byproducts as a Replacement for Mineral Particles in a Novel, Low Embodied Energy, Construction Material | 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.