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.