| Greensulate: Building Industry Warms Up to Mushrooms |
| Written by Jaymi Heimbuch | ||
| Friday, 30 May 2008 | ||
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Flip on HGTV or TLC and you’ll notice that building with sustainable resources is a flourishing concept. From bamboo flooring to all-natural paint, builders and home owners want eco-friendly solutions. Now there is an organic way to stay warm…and cool. Greensulation is a renewable and biodegradeable insulation currently undergoing testing, and when it hits the market – potentially as soon as 2010 – it will be the first of its kind in the industry. The insulation is made mainly of rice hulls, mushroom roots and recycled paper, which are mixed together with water and hydrogen peroxide, placed in plastic containers, and put in a dark place where it can literally grow into shape. It is then baked to stop photosynthesis of mold and spores, and voila! – a rigid panel of insulation that can withstand heat up to 1,112 degrees Fahrenehit. The best part is it can be done cheaply since it utilizes agro-garbage and easily obtained ingredients, and contains no petroleum. The product is proven to be fire retardant - far more so than common pink insulation products - but is still under testing to make sure it can resist mold growth and conforms to strict building codes. But building companies all over the world are already contacting the inventors at Ecovative wanting to know more about the innovation. Along with other boons to the building industry and eco-friendly home construction, Greensulation will be a welcome addition to the growing arsenal of cheap, sustainable materials.
Comments
(5)
Building with biohazards
written by paku , May 30, 2008
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written by The Geek , May 30, 2008
Interesting but there are already 100% recycled insulating materials out there. One that is make from recycled denim, the other being make from recycled newspaper. There is also spray foam insulation while not recycled it is better then the pink stuff which is actually falling out of favor with home builders. The main advantage the pink stuff has right now is that it is easy installation project for homeowner to decrease their homes energy consumption.
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written by EV , May 31, 2008 Greensulation is a renewable and biodegradeable You lost me at biodegradable. I currently live in a house that is over 100 years old. I don't want it degrading around me over time.
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written by Glenn , June 04, 2008
molds don't conduct photosynthesis.
Sam
written by Sam , November 05, 2008
Paku: Greensulate is entirely natural and benign. The organism is killed and dried prior to installation in a home, so there are no spore or allergy issues.
Geek: Those materials you reference are not 100% recyclable. They add several chemicals to the denim and newspaper cellulose to make them fire retardant. Greensulate is naturally fire retardant without these added chemicals. EV: Greensulate won't biodegrade in your home any more than the 2x4's in your walls. However, when your house eventually is torn down, the Greensulate can be crumpled up and thrown on your garden. When it is super saturated with water (rained on) on dirt, only then will it naturally decompose. |
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Surely this is code for 'the damned stuff is currently a biohazard'.