Abstract: An insulative panel having a width,, a length and a thickness is composed of plant matter chopped into pieces having a specific size range; and a binder holding the chopped pieces together in a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible mass.

Abstract: A method for insulating a building panel involves chopping plant matter into pieces having a specific size range, mixing gluten with warm water, forming a slurry, adding a catalyst that precipitates cross-linking to the gluten slurry, mixing the chopped plant matter with the gluten slurry having been mixed with the catalyst, and adding the plant matter mixed with the gluten slurry to one or more volumes in a structural frame.

Abstract: A building panel has a frame of horizontal and vertical elements, having an overall width, a length and a thickness, one or more volumes within the frame, and insulative material in the one or more volumes, the insulative material comprising plant matter chopped into pieces having a specific range of size, mixed with binder matter holding proximate pieces of the plant matter together. The binder matter is no more than ten percent of the weight of the insulative material, and the insulative material impedes heat transfer across the thickness of the building panel.

Abstract: A building panel has a frame of horizontal and vertical elements, having an overall width, a length and a thickness, one or more volumes within the frame, and insulative material in the one or more volumes, the insulative material comprising plant matter chopped into pieces having a specific range of size, mixed with binder matter holding proximate pieces of the plant matter together. The binder matter is no more than ten percent of the weight of the insulative material, and the insulative material impedes heat transfer across the thickness of the building panel.