Eben Bayer, 21, has invented an organic insulation formula with oyster mushroom spores as its main ingredient. The material, called Geensulate, also contains water, flour, and the mineral blend perlite. Bayer, who learned mushroom cultivation from his dad, and business partner Gavin McIntyre, 22, have been growing the material under their beds but hope to bring it to market in a year or so. Apparently, Greensulate's ability to resist heat flow is comparable to that of traditional fiberglass insulation. From the Associated Press:
Here's how it works: A mixture of water, mineral particles, starch and hydrogen peroxide are poured into 7-by-7-inch molds and then injected with living mushroom cells. The hydrogen peroxide is used to prevent the growth of other specimens within the material.
Placed in a dark environment, the cells start to grow, digesting the starch as food and sprouting thousands of root-like cellular strands. A week to two weeks later, a 1-inch-thick panel of insulation is fully grown. It's then dried to prevent fungal growth, making it unlikely to trigger mold and fungus allergies, according to Bayer. The finished product resembles a giant cracker in texture.
"It really allows for a myriad of uses," said McIntyre. He said they've envisioned modifying the product to make structural panels that could be grown and assembled onsite to produce sustainable homes.
