MassCEC doesn’t just fund innovation through grants, we also invest directly in businesses developing the next generation of climatetech products. Through our 2030 Fund, we support companies across Massachusetts that are bringing new technologies to market to cut emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and create value for their customers. As part of a new blog series, we’re highlighting the innovators and the stories behind these solutions.
The Hidden Cost of Moisture Damage
Moisture is one of the most persistent and expensive challenges facing homes and buildings today. Nearly half of all homes experience persistent dampness and mold, conditions that are associated with a 30-50% increase in respiratory illness and asthma, costing the U.S. economy more than $22 billion annually. On top of that, builders and homeowners face significant costs from mold, rot, and water-related structural failures. In fact, moisture-related insurance claims are estimated to exceed $13 billion each year.
In Massachusetts, where heating, cooling, and humidity swings are constant, moisture problems can reduce indoor air quality, increase energy costs, and shorten building lifespans. Adept Materials, a Massachusetts-based company born out of advanced materials research at Brown University, is tackling this challenge head-on with a new category of climate-responsive coatings designed to protect homes while improving energy performance.
How Adept Materials is Solving the Problem
Adept Materials has developed and patented Vaporwisp™, a material technology that brings new moisture management capabilities to the built environment. Vaporwisp is a component included in Lilypad Paint & Primer, a two-layer system that helps buildings regulate moisture, humidity, and temperature—conditions that commonly lead to mold, rot, and diminished comfort. Lilypad goes on like ordinary paint but turns walls into an intelligent, passive moisture-control system.
Lilypad Paint has a premium finish and also functions as a desiccant, a substance that absorbs moisture (water) from the air to keep things dry, pulling water vapor out of the air when humidity rises. A gallon can absorb about 14 ounces of vapor, roughly what a hot shower produces. As the air dries, that stored moisture slowly evaporates back into the room, smoothing out humidity swings. Lilypad Primer completes the system by acting as a humidity-responsive gate, closing as the air dries to keep the vapor out of the wall.
In simple terms, Lilypad enables walls to control humidity automatically. That means less risk of mold growth, better indoor air quality, more comfortable rooms, and even 5–10% energy savings when used throughout a home.
“Our vision is a smart home that doesn’t need complex sensors, wires, or electricity to function,” said Derek Stein, founder and CEO of Adept Materials. “By embedding intelligence into the materials themselves, we enable walls to respond to the environment. Lilypad’s Vaporwisp technology takes its cue from how plants naturally manage water. It automatically regulates humidity and temperature, even when the power goes out.”
Adept is currently based at Greentown Labs in Somerville, and works with customers and commercial partners across Massachusetts and the US. Their work sits at the intersection of materials science and building innovation, with a clear goal of making homes more resilient in a changing climate, particularly in communities that are most vulnerable to moisture-related issues.
How MassCEC Supports This Work
Adept has benefited from a wide range of MassCEC support, carrying out early prototyping and field trials under our Catalyst and InnovateMass grant programs, and using the Clean Energy Internship program to bring in talent from local universities. MassCEC’s 2030 Fund participated in several equity financings alongside investors including Point Cove LLC, the Slater Technology Fund, and top US homebuilders D.R. Horton and Pulte Group. This support has helped Adept Materials strengthen its R&D, grow its team, prove how its moisture-management technology works, and build momentum toward commercial launch.
As companies like Adept reach the market, MassCEC’s High Performance Buildings team supports deployment of their products to advance decarbonization and deliver economic benefits in the built environment. The goal is to ensure that new building innovations developed in Massachusetts, including healthier, safer materials for managing moisture, reach the customers and communities that need them, both within and beyond the Commonwealth.
From Pilots to Market Launch
Adept’s technology offers a new approach to building health that helps to reduce costly damage, extend building lifespans, and make everyday living spaces more comfortable and energy-efficient. This added layer of moisture intelligence has the potential to unlock meaningful long-term savings for households and property owners alike.
Today, we’re excited to share that Adept has announced the commercial launch of Lilypad Paint & Primer, making it available to homeowners, builders and property managers directly at lilypadpaint.com. The team will debut the new product at the International Homebuilders Show in Orlando next week, introducing their technology to a wider audience across the homebuilding and remodeling industries.
To accelerate adoption of Lilypad, Adept is partnering with developers such as D.R. Horton and PulteGroup, and public housing authorities like Boston Housing Authority, and will soon have multiple pilot programs underway. The company’s long-term vision extends even beyond paint, aiming to bring Vaporwisp technology to sectors like construction, healthcare, textiles, and other industries where moisture control plays a critical role. Learn more about Adept Materials at https://www.adeptmaterials.com/.
To explore additional MassCEC portfolio companies advancing climate innovation across the Commonwealth, visit the MassCEC Investments page.