Can Rice Hulls Really Build a House? (Yes, And It’s Genius)

Discover how Modern Mill is transforming the future of building materials with ACRE, a stunning, low-maintenance, sustainable alternative to wood. CEO Chris Guimond joins host Ian Peterman on the Conscious Design Podcast to reveal how upcycled rice hulls are helping create hurricane- and fire-resistant materials that outperform traditional wood in durability, ease of use, and sustainability. If you're a homeowner, builder, architect, or sustainability advocate, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ● Why old-growth wood isn’t a sustainable option anymore ● How ACRE performs better than cedar or PVC in extreme climates ● The surprising role of rice hulls in creating eco-friendly siding ● How ACRE’s biophilic design improves wellness and aesthetics ● Where ACRE is being used, from hospitals to million-dollar coastal homes ⏩ Jump to your favorite parts: 00:00 - Guest Intro 00:37 - The Origin of ACRE by Modern Mill 01:07 - The Importance of Sustainable Building Materials 02:08 - Why ACRE Beats Traditional Wood and Composites 07:47 - Performance and Installation of ACRE 15:23 - Sustainable and Easy-to-Maintain: ACRE’s Benefi ts 22:34 - The High Cost of Home Maintenance 23:58 - Psychological Perks and Biophilic Benefi ts of ACRE 27:13 - ACRE in Medical and Senior Care Facilities 29:10 - ACRE's Versatility in Interior Applications 36:08 - Sustainability and Longevity of ACRE 41:22 - ACRE's Fire and Hurricane Credentials About Chris Guimond & Modern Mill Chris Guimond is the CEO of Modern Mill, a sustainable building materials company creating eco-friendly wood alternatives from upcycled rice hulls. Modern Mill’s flagship product, ACRE, offers a no-compromise alternative to traditional wood. It is durable, beautiful, low-maintenance, and fully recyclable. Made in the USA, ACRE is reimagining how sustainable design meets performance. 🔗 Connect with Chris Guimond & Modern Mill: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Twitter: YouTube: Get the “Conscious Design” book: Learn more: Want to turn visionary ideas into market-ready, sustainable products? 👉 🤝 Let’s Connect: Instagram: TikTok: LinkedIn: X (Twitter): We help creative entrepreneurs integrate social & environmental responsibility into their brand’s DNA through . 💬 What do you think about using sustainable alternatives like ACRE? Let us know below. 🔔 Enjoyed this episode? Like,

You can listen to Can Rice Hulls Really Build a House? (Yes, And It’s Genius) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Can Rice Hulls Really Build a House? (Yes, And It’s Genius) is an episode from Conscious Design Podcast™ by Ian Peterman.

This episode is 00:46:21 long.

This episode was published on Jul 26, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Conscious Design Podcast™ when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.