BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—The maker of the EcoSmart Stud, an energy-saving innovation for home construction, today announced a production letter of intent with Vaagen Timbers, a leading manufacturer of wood products for construction.

“This is a major step that will bring the EcoSmart Stud to builders so they and homeowners can begin enjoying the stud’s energy-saving benefits,” said Jon Pues, president of ViCa3 Ventures of Bloomington, the stud’s inventor.

The EcoSmart Stud 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 heating and cooling costs for the lifetime of their homes.

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 make other products, reducing the need to cut down more trees.

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

The production letter of intent with Vaagen Timbers of Colville, Wash., means the EcoSmart stud is closer to being available to home builders and homeowners.

“We’re proud to take this step and look forward to being the first producer of the EcoSmart Stud,” said Spencer Bishop, Vaagen’s vice president of sales. “Our company is committed to environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions for the construction industry and end-users. The EcoSmart Stud is a construction-industry game-changer. It fits perfectly in our portfolio of products that help builders, their customers and the environment.”

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.

In June, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Association of Home Builders recognized the EcoSmart Stud at the Innovative Housing Showcase, a display of environmentally conscious construction products on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

“We have received amazing feedback and interest from the construction industry about the EcoSmart Stud,” Pues said. “Our agreement with Vaagen is the next step in making the EcoSmart Stud the premier construction solution for homes that are environmentally friendly, reduce costs and minimize the carbon footprint of building.”

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 more information, please visit our website.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Rob Karwath | Vice President | AIMCLEAR

218-343-9418 | rob@aimclear.com