BIOBUILD, a Horizon Europe funded Innovation project has been launched with a €4.9 million budget to provide thermal solutions for energy efficient buildings using fully bio-based building materials.
The project incorporates bio-based phase change materials (bioPCMs) into solid wood and fibers bound by plant oil resins, lignin and fungal mycelium. With its innovative approach, BIOBUILD aims to reduce up to 20% of energy consumption in buildings.
Currently, buildings in Europe account for 40% of energy use and about 95% of the binders used in wood-fiber composites are fossil-derived. Non-biobased materials such as bricks, concrete, plastic, gypsum, glass and rock wool have high environmental footprints, limited recycling possibilities and should be replaced with bio-based, sustainable materials.