Savick was founded to turn buildings from a carbon source to a carbon sink, all the while maximizing the human health and economical benefits of working with local and natural building materials. Hyper insulated prefab straw assemblies don’t just reduce energy consumption and the associated operating emissions: the biogenic material stores carbon for the lifespan of the building. The ingredients of chopped straw insulation are very simple: straw. Savick’s straw is a leftover from Alberta barley and wheat farming, which is recovered from the field and transported less than 100 km to its production facility. It is then finely chopped to create a consistent and thermally resistant (R3.6/inch) insulating product. The chopped straw is then blown into prefabricated wood frames that are custom built to meet the demands for each construction project the company completes in North America. Despite no added chemicals, the densely packed straw insulated assemblies perform well under fire and demanding hygrothermal conditions. Often a key member of the projects preconstruction team, Savick assists in the buildings structural and envelope design to ensure compliance with building codes, permits and regulations; along with obtaining New Home Warranties and insurance. Savick’s straw insulated panels are often delivered to site with a high level of finish; with weather resistant barriers, air sealing strategies, and structural connections pre-planned and detailed in a controlled production environment. In some cases the Savick team will play an active role in the projects panel installation work (especially in Western Canada), where on other projects the best strategy is for local panel installers to take the lead; with several training options available.