DEEE0011452

THIS APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ADDRESSES DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING CHALLENGES TO LOW-COST 3D PRINTED HOME CONSTRUCTION WITH WASTE WOOD FEEDSTOCK, SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF THE DOE 2050 ROADMAP FOR DECARBONIZING BUILDINGS. IN 2022, THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE PRODUCED A 600 FT2 HOME WITH BIO-BASED MATERIALS, INCLUDING WOOD RESIDUALS AND BIORESINS, THAT CAN BE FULLY RECYCLED. KNOWN AS BIOHOME3D, THE HOME ADDRESSES LABOR SHORTAGES AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT ARE DRIVING HIGH COSTS AND CONSTRICTING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PRINTING USING ABUNDANT, RENEWABLE, AND LOCALLY SOURCED AND/OR RECYCLABLE FEEDSTOCK REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON A CONSTRAINED SUPPLY CHAIN AND MINIMIZES EMBODIED LIFECYCLE EMISSIONS. THIS RESEARCH IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THIS TECHNOLOGY CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT AND TIMELY IMPACT ON THE DEMAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES BOTH IN MAINE AND NATIONWIDE. IN MAINE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A NEED FOR 80,000 NEW HOMES BY 2030; AND THE EXISTING WORKFORCE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO MEET THIS DEMAND. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND PROVE NEW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING DESIGNS THAT CAN BE 3D PRINTED ON LARGE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT.

University Of Maine System

FY24 CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING PROJECT (CDSP)

81.087 - Renewable Energy Research and Development

Golden Field Office (GFO) [DOE - EERE]

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) [DOE]

Orono, Maine 04469-5793 United States

Single Zip Code

NOT APPLICABLE