WASHINGTON—The EcoSmart Stud, an energy-saving innovation for home construction, was recognized today at the Innovative Housing Showcase, an invitation-only display of environmentally conscious construction products sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Association of Home Builders.

The stud is the invention of Jon Pues, president of ViCa3 Ventures of Bloomington, Minn., and a home builder. It uses a simple innovation—gaps and slots strategically carved out of the wood in a traditional two-by-six exterior wall stud—to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of home construction and save homeowners significant heating and cooling costs for the lifetime of their home.

The gaps and slots allow insulation to fill those spaces, increasing the insulating value of exterior walls. The stud also is lighter, reducing the carbon footprint of transportation and other costs of home construction. In addition, wood carved from the stud can go to other uses.

Home builders like the stud because it avoids an expensive layer of extra insulation on exterior walls. It also strengthens walls and speeds construction.

“We hit the housing-construction trifecta with the EcoSmart Stud—lower cost, higher insulation value and an innovation that allows construction to move forward quicker and better,” Pues said. “We’re honored to be recognized by HUD and the National Association of Home Builders for the value the EcoSmart Stud provides.”

Only 37 home-building innovators nationwide were invited to the Innovative Housing Showcase. The event is a three-day display and public fair on the National Mall featuring new building technologies and housing solutions that make housing more sustainable, resilient and affordable for American families. More than 2,500 people, including policymakers, housing industry representatives, media and members of the public, are expected to attend.

Specific benefits of the EcoSmart Stud include:

• Energy savings: The EcoSmart Stud creates an insulation rating of R-16 compared with R-7 for a standard wood stud. Higher R-value means less energy loss, which results in smaller utility bills.
• Less weight: The typical two-by-six solid wood exterior stud weighs about 15 lbs. The EcoSmart Stud weighs about 10 lbs., making it easier to handle and cheaper to ship to construction sites. This speeds construction and reduces the carbon footprint of home construction projects.
• Stronger walls: When the EcoSmart Stud is used with closed-cell spray foam in the wall assembly, the racking strength is greatly increased compared with standard construction. This helps with home durability and maintenance and especially provides benefits in areas prone to severe weather or earthquakes.

 

ABOUT THE ECOSMART STUD:

The EcoSmart Stud is for anyone building a new home or undertaking a large remodel who wants lower utility bills, a stronger home and environmental benefits. The EcoSmart Stud team believes in building homes smartly and efficiently while working within practices familiar to builders. This makes the EcoSmart Stud cost effective for the mass market.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Rob Karwath | Vice President | AIMCLEAR

218-343-9418 | rob@aimclear.com