Greensulate™ is what its inventors call “low-tech biotech.”  Created by allowing mycelia (the roots of mushrooms) to grow in agricultural material such as buckwheat and cottonseed hulls , the material can be formed into strong rigid board-style insulation that passes all ASTM tests for mold growth, water sorption, and vapor transmission.  The product is also completely safe for humans to handle install without the use of protective gear and clothing. 

While the material isn’t the first green alternative to petrochemical insulation, it’s one of the only board-type insulation alternatives available, making it extremely desirable for building contractors who cater to green home buyers. 

Because the material is literally grown and not manufactured, it can be customized in a matter of hours by substituting different component materials to provide unique strength characteristics.  The inventors had also wondered if the unique properties of the constituent materials would lead to any special properties and they were thrilled to learn that the finished material is flame resistant and earns a class 1 fire rating.

The same process used to create Greensulate™ is also used in the growing of mycelia-based packing materials trademarked under the name Ecocradle.  As an alternative to Styrofoam, the material performs extremely well and can be custom shaped by altering the container in which the material is grown.  Ecocradle material is completely biodegradable and some enterprising users even recycle the material as mulch for gardens.

In a relatively short amount of time, the company and its products have gained a tremendous amount of interest being featured in Popular Science, PopTech, and even appeared on an episode of CSI:  NY.

To learn more about Ecovative Designs or any of its revolutionary biotech products visit the company’s website at:  www.ecovativedesign.com/

The Habitat for Humanity has a long history of preserving building materials through well organized demolition and acceptance of donated goods.  Originally, this started as a way to save the organization as much money as possible.  By reusing materials they pull from one jobsite on another or taking materials local contractors or business owners no longer needed, the company was able to run a much tighter ship—very important indeed when your organization depends on monetary donations for financial support.

However, as an added “side effect,” the process of reusing those materials ahs helped to keep hundreds of thousands of tons of building materials out of landfills and eliminated the need for the manufacture of an equivalent number of new products–which is an extremely costly endeavor in environmental terms.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are just a natural extension of that green behavior.  The retail stores, located in forty-eight states across the country including Hawaii, take donation of everything from building materials to fixtures and even appliances and sell those items at drastically reduced prices to the general public, building contractors, and even other retail outlets.  Not only does this process keep those materials from rotting away in landfills, it also generates a revenue stream for the volunteer organization. 

The company has also recently added ReStore items to its online store including recyclable pens constructed with cornstarch barrels, 100% corn plastic travel mugs, and a pen/pencil set made from recycled paper. 

This is just a small part of the organizations environmental initiative which includes affiliate training, Energy Star compliant building codes, and their Healthy Housing information program designed to help partner families “enjoy healthier, more energy-efficient and durable housing at the lowest possible cost.”

Often times when we think of green building practices and materials we rush to judgment and assume that those products and services will inherently cost more.  Habitat for Humanity has discovered a positive model for green building that actually saves money. 

For more on the Habitat for Humanity ReStore program or to find a ReStore near you, visit:  www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx