Mighty Buildings Integrates Eco-Friendly Insulation Into Its New 3D Printed Homes
Mighty Buildings is partnering with Honeywell for more sustainable homebuilding to EnergyStar standard.
According to 3D Printing Industry, construction 3D printing company Mighty Buildings has partnered with multinational manufacturing conglomerate Honeywell to make its 3D printed homes more sustainable.
The partnership will see Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) replace traditional foam insulation in the 3D printed houses. LBA possesses a global warming potential (GWP) of just 1, 99.9% lower than conventional blowing agents.
Incorporating Honeywell’s low-global warming potential (GWP) insulation will reportedly reduce carbon emissions and produce strong, energy-efficient building panels. This will enable near-zero waste and faster construction than conventional methods while offering greater temperature control to homeowners.
“When used with our patented 3D-printing technology, Solstice LBA will enable us to build comfortable and climate-resistant housing,” commented Scott Gebicke, Mighty Buildings’ CEO. “By incorporating Solstice into our production process, we can further enhance the performance and sustainability of our 3D-printed products while reducing the construction industry’s overall carbon footprint.”
According to Gebicke, the collaboration helps to address the need for fast, safe and reliable alternatives to traditional building materials in the construction industry.
Mighty Buildings adds sustainable insulation to 3D printed homes
According to a recent UN Environment Programme report, the construction and building industry is responsible for 37% of global greenhouse emissions. Honeywell and Mighty Buildings’ partnership seeks to tackle this by improving the energy efficiency of 3D printed homes.
The LBA-based building panels will be 3D printed at Mighty Buildings’ production facility in Monterrey, Mexico. Here, the company can produce enough panels for two homes per day. The construction time for each 3D printed house is usually under a week.
Thanks to Solstice LBA’s ability to provide superior thermal insulation, these 3D printed houses require less energy for heating and cooling than those made with alternative blowing agents.
The environmental benefits of Honeywell’s offering have been validated by the Environmental Protection Agency which listed Solstice LBA in its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program. This initiative promotes the development and adoption of alternatives to ozone-depleting materials.
“Honeywell offers a range of solutions to help customers reach their emissions reduction and energy efficiency goals,” explained Jeff Dormo, president of Honeywell Sustainability and Decarbonization. He added that the company’s sustainable, non-flammable foam-blowing agent has the potential to “transform the future of homes” and the construction industry as a whole.