The Benefits of Mycelium Construction Material for Your Home

We’ve explored fungus for various unconventional uses for millennia. From its prehistoric use as fire-starting mechanisms to its modern function as fiber for clothes, mushrooms are all the rage. It may surprise you that using mycelium as a construction material for your home comes with many benefits. What are the benefits? Read on to find out below. 

It’s Sustainable

Did you know that mycelium—the body of the mushroom that lies below the ground, not the fruit that grows above ground—can take up acres of land? Did you also know that smaller mushrooms can grow to fruition in three to four days? Let’s compare that to our conventional use of wood. A tree takes 30 years to grow. Because of this, deforestation occurs at an unsustainable rate. When you cut down a tree, another won’t grow in its place unless you plant a new one. On the other hand, mushrooms can release spores that make two or three new mushrooms per day.

Offers Structural Integrity

Don’t let its softness fool you. Mycelium brick is as good as concrete. In addition, there’s no requirement for bonding material, and the bricks expand, grow, and contract over time, eliminating building waste. It is both waterproof and fireproof, making it perfect for inclement weather. It’s also 100 percent biodegradable. This is a key benefit of using mycelium material for your home.

Good for the Environment

If you care about the environment, mycelium materials are the way to go. Given their sustainability, we don’t have to worry about using more of them than they’re capable of growing. They have low CO2 emissions and a very small environmental footprint. They are a light food and a great eco-friendly material.

In short, mycelium materials for construction are here to stay. While we’ve covered much of what makes mycelium an appropriate material, there’s always more to learn. We look forward to seeing what’s in store for our fungal friends.