BLOOMINGTON, Minn.—The maker of the EcoSmart Stud, an energy-saving innovation for home construction, today announced that the stud has received its technical evaluation report, or TER, allowing contractors to begin planning to use it in construction projects nationwide starting in 2024.

“This was an expected step, but it is an important step for the EcoSmart Stud,” said Jon Pues, president of ViCa3 Ventures of Bloomington, the stud’s inventor. “Now, contractors across the country can begin building with the stud and seeing its benefits, for the environment, for ease of construction and improved construction fundamentals as well as for the lifetime energy savings that end users of homes and other structures will enjoy.”

A TER is an engineering evaluation based on testing and other objective analysis that certifies the performance of a construction product or component used. All construction materials used in building must receive TER certification to validate that they are suitable for their designed building purposes.

A TER also provides guidance and other information to architects, engineers and contractors seeking to use the EcoSmart Stud nationwide as well as in specific parts of the country with special building requirements.

The TER found that the EcoSmart Stud “has performance characteristics that were tested and/or meet applicable regulations and is suitable for use pursuant to its specified purpose.” More design information will be added to the report in December with a composite wall test. This will provide added design information for areas that experience high winds and seismic activity.

Dr. J Engineering of Madison, Wis., performed the TER. The engineering firm works with creative companies to bring new and existing products, processes and services to the market professionally, reliably and cost-effectively, using generally accepted engineering practices.

A copy of the TER, officially No. 2304-120, is available on the Dr. J website. Access on the EcoSmart Stud website, by hovering over the “Resources” tab. Click on “How to install” and then “How to use the EcoSmart Stud.” Users can download the EcoSmart Stud TER as a PDF or a sealed TER.

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.

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.