SBIR-STTR Award

Carbon Storing Straw Structural Insulated Panel (S-SIP) for Wide-Scale Application
Award last edited on: 5/4/22

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
EPA
Total Award Amount
$500,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
20-OSAPE-5E
Principal Investigator
Anthony Dente

Company Information

Verdant Structural Engineers

1101 8th Street Number 180
Berkeley, CA 94710
   (510) 528-5394
   admin@verdantstructural.com
   www.verdanstructural.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 13
County: Alameda

Phase I

Contract Number: 68HERC21C0031
Start Date: 3/1/21    Completed: 8/31/21
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$100,000
The Need + Current Technologies: Right now, most walls and wall systems built in the US release carbon into the atmosphere for their production (embodied carbon). Considering that the current climate crisis is worsened by carbon, these wall systems must be designed to store and sequester carbon. Carbon-storing bio-based wall systems, such as straw bale construction, do exist on the residential market. However, most of these buildings are custom and site built, making it difficult for large-scale production in the US. Mechanized and panelized straw systems are primarily concentrated in Australian and European markets. Our Solution + Environmental

Benefits:
Verdant Structural Engineers (VSE) will combat embodied carbon emissions and strengthen the structural insulated panel (SIP) market by creating straw SIP panel alternatives (S-SIP panels) strengthen the EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment by: 1.Storing carbon within the walls of a scalable, competitive panelized product that has all high level green building benefits. 2. Removing foam insulation, thus reducing manufactured toxicity and reducing embodied carbon. Production of most SIPs include "hydrofluorocarbon's (HFC) blowing agents that are very potent greenhouse gases (Green Building Advisor)." 3. Creating a circular economy between new and existing medium-sized producers and local farmers for straw. Both the residential building industry and the agricultural straw industry are wide-reaching and typically hyper-local and therefore so is the distribution potential for the S-SIP. Commercial Applications: S-SIP will focus on single family residential wall applications, and eventually multi-story residential and commercial applications. Market Potential: Since 2016, straw bale building projects at VSE have doubled, and the SIP market is "expected to reach the market value of around $500 Mm by 2026 and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of more than 4.5% (Acumen)." Technical Feasibility: VSE is a leading expert in the field of straw bale construction. We have designed over 100 straw bale construction projects, authored the straw bale building code and regularly engineer conventional SIP construction. Straw store and sequesters carbon during its life in a building, decomposes after use (no toxic leaching or construction waste), and is fire safe, durable and reliable - proven by 100+ years of use across the US. End Users: S-SIP panels will be used by designers, builders and homeowners to lower the embodied and overall carbon emissions, toxicity, and end-of-life waste associated with their structures.

Phase II

Contract Number: 68HERC22C0042
Start Date: 1/1/22    Completed: 12/31/23
Phase II year
2022
Phase II Amount
$400,000
The Need and Our Technology: Most wall systems built in the US emit carbon during production (embodied carbon). The building industry accounts for 39% of global CO2 emissions, with 11% of these emissions from the embodied carbon of materials due to sourcing, manufacturing, and implementation. Verdant Structural Engineers (VSE) will combat embodied carbon emissions and strengthen the structural insulated panel (SIP) market by creating straw SIP alternatives (S-SIPs) for single-family residential to mid-rise commercial applications in the US. Technology Innovation: Straw is composed of atmospheric carbon which has been converted to "solid" stored carbon by photosynthesis. In the field, straw decomposes and re-releases the stored carbon back into the atmosphere. In an S-SIP, straw is protected from decomposition. The carbon which was absorbed by the grain plant is not re-released, resulting in stored carbon or negative carbon emissions. The product�s Model 1 designs will offer a 5.5 inch thick wall with conventional finishing options that are code applicable for most climate and structural l zones in the USA. The panel will also employ mechanized construction, which is currently nonexistent in domestic straw construction at the scale proposed. Technical Feasibility: The production of this technology is feasible due to recent advancements in the building science of moisture and the thermal behavior of straw. Results of Phase 1: The concept of VSE's S-SIP technology was proven in Phase 1. The straw-based panel will easily meet the thickness, weight, construction, cost, performance, and code compliance requirements for a speedy market deployment schedule to combat the urgent climate crisis. End Users: S-SIP wall systems will be used by building owners, developers, designers, and builders that are interested in lowering the embodied and overall carbon emissions, toxicity, and end-of-life waste associated with their structures. Potential Market Size: Since 2016, residential straw bale building projects at VSE have doubled, and the SIP market itself is �expected to reach the market value of around $500 Mn by 2026 and anticipated to grow at a CAGR of more than 4.5%� (Acumen). Performance Compared to Current Technologies: No current comparable technology with notable national market share contains this level of negative embodied carbon performance. Environmental

Benefits:
The VSE S-SIP is non-toxic, safe for workers and building occupants, and biodegradable at end-of-life. Production projections estimate 74 million kgs of CO2 stored in 5 years which is the equivalent of 8,333,521 gallons of gaso