Fungal Insulation Revolutionizes Housing in Alaska

Scientists are using a vast fungal network, called mycelium, to create insulation that can withstand Alaska's extreme climate conditions. This innovative nature-based solution is being developed to address the urgent need for safe, warm, and affordable housing in the state. The researchers have been working on cultivating and creating the bio-insulation, using local wood pulp and a native fungus that can thrive in the state's harsh environment.

Key Takeaways:

• The mycelium insulation is being developed by scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Alaska, in collaboration with a biomaterials researcher at the University of Alaska at Anchorage.
• The insulation is made from a foamy milkshake of wood pulp and water, with the addition of fungus culture, which is then incubated and cured to create hard, solid boards that resist water while remaining breathable.
• The final product is 100% compostable and has shown to be thermally equivalent to conventional petroleum-based products.
• The researchers are concerned about the robustness of the technology, as something built to be biodegradable may not last as long as traditional insulation materials.
• The lifespan of the boards is still being studied, but recent tests have shown it to be resistant to decay and mold, even in extreme environments like Fairbanks.
• The project has received interest in the commercial market, particularly for a different kind of insulation as a replacement for plastic-foam fish coolers, but the researchers aim to develop the product further for housing applications.

Statistics:

• 80°F temperature differential between indoor and outdoor environments in Fairbanks, Alaska.
• 9-year lifespan of the experimental insulation boards, with no signs of decay or mold.
• 100% compostable insulation material, replacing traditional petroleum-based products.
• 80-degree record low winter temperature in the Yukon Flats, with record high summer temperatures reaching above 100°F.
• 65°F average temperature that residents in Fairbanks aim to maintain indoors during extreme winter conditions.

Sources:

• Philippe Amstislavski, mycologist and biomaterials researcher at the University of Alaska at Anchorage.
• Robbin Garber-Slaght, research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
• Lining Yao, biomaterials researcher from the University of California at Berkeley.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
• University of Alaska.
• University of Alaska at Anchorage.