Department of Energy awards $39 million to ten universities and other labs to develop carbon-storing buildings

Forbes reports that the Department of Energy has awarded $39 million to various universities and institutions, including UB, to develop carbon-storing buildings. 

The UB team's project is led by Shenqiang Ren, and is titled, "Modular Design and Additive Manufacturing of Interlocking Superinsulation Panel from Bio-based Feedstock forAutonomous Construction." It is funded at $2,179,852.

The team will design and additively manufacture modular interlocking superinsulation panel materials using a patented combination of biogenic cellulose (or straw) and superinsulation silica aerogel. Unlike sourcing raw biogenic material, the scalable cellulose/straw/silica aerogel material can enable highthroughput continuous manufacturing of panels at ambient conditions. The panels will provide high thermal insulation, structural durability, moisture and fire resistance, soundproofing, and easy installation at a low cost. The panels will meet embodied and operational carbon-negative emission requirements and provide recycling/repurposing capabilities. 

Read the story here.