The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $400,000 grant to West Virginia University (WVU) for research on innovative housing construction methods. The funding aims to test and standardize practices for creating greener housing systems.
Adrianne Todman, HUD Agency Head, emphasized the need for more quality affordable homes in America. "At HUD, we work every day to uplift communities by supporting programs to help people find affordable homes and that includes supporting research projects like the one we are announcing today at West Virginia University," she stated. She added that such projects can aid in learning and standardizing best practices for new building technologies as part of the solution to increase housing supply nationwide.
West Virginia University will collaborate with Omnis Building Technologies, LLC on this project. They plan to develop innovative building panels made from geopolymer concrete and foam cores reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer grids. These panels aim to reduce CO2 emissions and improve thermal performance. A 1,600-square-foot building will be constructed on WVU’s campus using these panels, focusing on improving construction efficiency, ease of assembly, and sustainability.
Solomon Greene, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at HUD, expressed enthusiasm about expanding the evidence base for new technologies addressing the housing crisis. "We know that in addition to building more affordably, we also need to increase resiliency and energy efficiency," he said. "WVU’s demonstration will help us learn how to build greener homes for all Americans."
The study of innovative construction practices is crucial for increasing high-quality housing supply across the nation. HUD supports initiatives aimed at boosting affordable housing production and providing more communities access to necessary homes.
