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This Little Piggy Built his House of Wheat Board

By Amanda Smith on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Image: This Little Piggy Built his House of Wheat Board

Wheat Board. Designed by Environ Biocomposites Manufacturing.

You remember the three little pigs. One built his house of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. While brick house stood strong, in the modern world where sustainability matters, bricks do not rank high in the list of green building materials. Sticks, (we’ll assume wood-frame construction), is the accepted norm in contemporary home building. Piggy #2 would be doing well as a developer, but unless his lumber is FSC certified, it is contributing to the depletion of natural forests. It appears that Piggy #1, who built his house of straw, may have been onto something and will be feeling environmentally conscious thanks to Wheat Board.

With the continuing regulation of the lumber and building industries there is a growing need for durable, affordable, environmentally friendly alternatives to architectural wood products. “Our unique manufacturing process does not destroy trees; it utilizes recycled materials and abundant renewable agricultural resources.” (Environ Biocomposites) Wheat board is manufactured from an abundant supply of a rapidly renewable agricultural fiber byproduct. Through the growth period of wheat used, a large amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. The end result after harvesting, manufacturing and transportation of the product results in a total impact value that is negative. No off-gassing solvents, such as urea formaldehyde, are added during the manufacturing process, thus the material emits no VOCs into your home or the atmosphere (it can also win you 4 possible LEED categories).

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Wheat board is a versatile product that could be used as a substitute for particle board, or as an interesting finish material. It has a golden glow that reminds me of Midwestern prairies, and is a refreshing alternative to bamboo, which has become the go-to material in sustainable wood finishes.

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Amanda Smith Amanda graduated from Cornell University Architecture a few years back. She is now working in a mid-size jack of all trades architecture firm in Manhattan. Her focus has been mainly on high-end retail design, which spurred her interest in materials and interiors. She also has a really awesome dog named Nigel.

2 Comments Add your own

by Joseph Starr January 28th, 2010

This is a great product whose time has come. Have they made progress on it as a substitute for sheathing ply?

by Amanda Smith January 28th, 2010

Environ Biocomposites also makes an industrial strength variety called Microstrand Wheat. http://www.environbiocomposites.com/micros.php

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