Decarbonating Regenerable Technology
Our vision is to establish ourselves as frontrunners in the advancement of healthy and sustainable built environments. We contribute to the well-being of society, the environment, and the economy through our technology in climate change mitigation and decarbonization.
Our Technology
Our system integrates microalgae as a renewable, decarbonating, and closed-loop technology. Building owners, A/E/C professionals and other stakeholders can reach their goals of creating healthy, carbon-neutral buildings.
Our Solutions
Our technologies offer multiple objectives, including enhancing user health and well-being, reducing building energy costs, ensuring circularity, and generating valuable biomass.
Performance Validations
Our innovative software platform offers a cost-effective solution with real-time performance monitoring and tangible benefits.
About
EcoClosure, a climate tech venture led by Kyoung Hee Kim PhD AIA NCARB NOMA specializes in designing, engineering, and deploying regenerable building technology for various commercial, industrial, and residential applications.
The National Science Foundation has funded EcoClosure’s decarbonizing regenerable technology to conduct rigorous R&D endeavors and initial commercialization.
Recognized for their ingenuity and practical innovation, EcoClosure emerged as a finalist for the esteemed 2020 Blue Diamond Cool Innovation Award, highlighting their ability to tackle longstanding environmental and social challenges with novel and enduring solutions.
About
Dr. Kyoung Hee Kim
Kyoung Hee Kim PhD AIA NCARB NOMA is a practicing architect, engineer, and entrepreneur. With over 15 years of industry experience, she is specialized in net zero-carbon, net zero energy buildings and regenerative materials.
Our Value Propositions
- Our revolutionary biochromic technology plays a vital role in improving indoor air quality. By reducing CO2 levels and generating oxygen-rich air, it contributes to the well-being and health of occupants—an essential aspect of a healthy environment.
- Our system aids in achieving net zero energy and net zero carbon building practices while meeting rigorous certifications such as LEED, WELL, and Fitwel. This ensures compliance with stringent sustainability standards and acknowledges our commitment to creating environmentally friendly buildings.
- The exceptional photosynthetic performance of our system enables highly efficient, nature-based decarbonization. This not only contributes to the carbon-neutral goal but also facilitates the acquisition of carbon credits, further reinforcing our environmentally conscious approach while providing financial benefits.
- With the increasing awareness of global warming, the need for renewable energy sources is becoming more crucial. Biofuel, a biomass coproduct of our system, serves as a viable alternative to solar and wind power. The production of biofuel not only provides an effective solution for reducing carbon emissions but also helps us achieve our carbon-neutral goals.
Broader Societal Impact
- The process of decarbonization is significantly supported by microalgae, which represent roughly 10% of terrestrial plant biomass but are responsible for sequestering over half of the world’s CO2 emissions. To illustrate the impact, consider the scenario where all commercial buildings in the United States (approximately 6 million buildings) are equipped with biochromic enclosures. This implementation alone has the potential to sequester an impressive 2.5 gigatons (Gt) of CO2 annually, surpassing 50% of the total CO2 emissions produced by the United States in 2020.
- Resource conservation is effectively achieved through the retrofitting of low performing buildings with biochromic enclosures, resulting in reduced energy bills attributed to decreased heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation requirements in buildings.
- Food and biofuel production are key benefits derived from microalgae biomass. This versatile resource has the potential to serve as a nutritional source for various life forms and as a renewable energy solution. To illustrate this potential, the biochromic enclosures installed on all commercial buildings across the United States can yield an impressive 1.4 gigatons (Gt) of biomass, which can be utilized as both a sustainable food source and an energy resource.
Microalgae Building Enclosures: Design and Engineering Principles
Author: Kyoung Hee Kim
Microalgae architecture is increasingly recognized for its biotechnical capabilities in achieving net-zero energy structures, while simultaneously fostering ecological sustainability and enhancing occupant well-being.
“Microalgae Building Enclosures: Design and Engineering Principles” seeks to offer comprehensive guidelines, encompassing design, engineering, and biotechnical aspects, for the implementation of microalgae building enclosures.
These guidelines are crucial in establishing symbiotic relationships among the built environment, human inhabitants, and surrounding ecosystems.
4.6Gt CO² equiv. Emissions in the US in 2020
2. 5Gt CO² Sequestration Potentials
(54% carbon uptake of US’s emission)
Typical commercial buildings enclosed with biochromic systems can sequester 2.5Gt CO2, given 6 million commercial buildings available in the US
4.6Gt CO² equiv. Emissions in the US in 2020
1.4Gt Biomass Production
As a Food source
Microalgae harvest from urban framing using existing commercial buildings can feed 1.4 billion people (the estimate is based on a Spirulina’s 1g/liter growth rate.
