Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate that operates in a variety of industries including building automation, has announced that Mighty Buildings, a construction 3D printing company, will use Honeywell Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) as a key component in the material used to 3D print homes. Honeywell’s low-GWP technology will replace traditional foam insulation, allowing Mighty Buildings to reduce emissions while producing strong, energy-efficient building panels.
The collaboration with Mighty Buildings helps Honeywell align its portfolio with three powerful megatrends, including the energy transition.
Honeywell Solstice® Technology
According to a recent UN Environment Programme report, the construction and building industry accounts for 37% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Solstice® LBA has the potential to reduce the industry’s environmental impact because its GWP is 99.9% less than other blowing agents commonly used in construction. Solstice® LBA allows 3D-printed homes to be built with almost no waste and in a fraction of the time of traditional construction methods.
“When used with our patented 3D-printing technology, Solstice® LBA will enable us to build comfortable and climate-resistant housing. The construction industry needs fast, safe and reliable alternatives to traditional building materials. By incorporating Solstice® into our production process, we can further enhance the performance and sustainability of our 3D printed products while reducing the construction industry’s overall carbon footprint.”
Scott Gebicke, CEO, Mighty Buildings
Mighty Buildings to 3D Print Homes using LBA
The 3D printed panels created with Solstice® LBA will be manufactured at Mighty Buildings’ production facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The facility can currently print enough panels for two homes per day, and Mighty Building’s average construction time for a 3D-printed home is less than a week. Because of Solstice® LBA’s superior thermal insulation, these homes require less energy to heat and cool than those built with other commonly used blowing agents.
“Honeywell offers a range of solutions to help customers reach their emissions reduction and energy efficiency goals. Our Solstice® technology is constantly being used in new ways, and by offering a non-ozone depleting, nonflammable and high-performance foam blowing agent, our work with Mighty Buildings has the potential to transform the future of homes and the building and construction industry as a whole.”
Jeff Dormo, president of Honeywell Sustainability and Decarbonization
The Environmental Protection Agency has included Honeywell Solstice® LBA in their Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, which encourages the development and use of alternatives to ozone-depleting materials.
Honeywell has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and new capacity for its Solstice® technology, which is currently used in refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosols, and solvents and is being considered for expanded use in metered dose inhalers. Since its introduction in 2011, Honeywell Solstice® technology has helped avoid the potential release of more than 395 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the carbon emissions from nearly 94 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.
About Honeywell: Honeywell is an integrated operating company that serves a diverse range of industries and geographies around the world. Its business is aligned with three powerful megatrends: automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition, which are supported by their Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform.
