CNN report on eco friendly sustainable hemp house built in Asheville, NC. Benefits include carbon negative construction, breathability, and reduced cost of heating and cooling.
Imagine you had a building material that was energy-efficient, non-toxic and resistant to mold, insects and fire. The material may even have a higher R-value, or thermal resistance, than concrete, a claim that is still being investigated.
The only problem? The base of the Hempcrete creation is hemp, which comes from the cannabis sativa plant -- the same one that produces marijuana, which is a federally banned substance. Because of this, industrial hemp production is illegal in the United States.
Still, the Hempcrete mixture of hemp, lime and water is being used to some extent for construction jobs across America. One of the companies working with Hempcrete is Hemp Technologies, a construction company based in North Carolina that is adamant about the advantages of building using Hempcrete. They’ve built homes out of hemp in Hawaii, Texas, Idaho and North Carolina, where they are currently working on a project known as “NauHaus.”
Throughout Europe, the use of hemp for construction purposes has spread across many countries. "We got started about three years ago and I was looking for sustainable building products, Hemp Technologies co-founder David Madera told GOOD Design. [Co-founder Greg Flavall] was in Europe, found Hempcrete and we basically did a tour of Europe and looked at everything that they had done in the U.K., France, Belgium, and Switzerland. We did our first seminar in 2009, and it was the most important thing that helped promote it.”
Seeing Hempcrete as a more efficient and sustainable building material has led to some dubbing it as a gateway product. The people behind the U.K.-based Tradical Hemcrete are using their hemp based product to create a carbon negative thermal walling material. Hempcrete can be used for everything from roof installation to flooring to wall construction. The creators of the Carson, California-based HempTraders.com, distributors of “fine hemp products”, sell Hempboard. Hempoboard is a medium density fiberboard made from 100 percent hemp hurds and can be used to make environmental furniture, counter tops, walls and shelving.
Considering the ban on the industrial hemp production in the United States, the eco-friendly and potentially cost efficient -- were it legal -- use of hemp for building will remain a bit complicated for now. Hemp Technologies have a section of their site dedicated to the perplexing history of America’s hemp laws, perhaps an indication that they understand their place in evolving the discourse on the issue that hemp isn’t just a “drug”, but an untapped, underused resource for good.
Source: Huffington Post
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I really don't understand why almost every country in the world banned usage of hemp in mass and other production projects. It would severely influence the pricing and the ecological side of the projects. I think the next human era will be known for it's only goal, reaching the complete sustainability, so I sure expect hemp making a great part in it!
ReplyDeleteThe entire world stands 2 benefit in the extreme 4 multiple reasons, from complete legalization!
ReplyDeletehuge house for 2 over privileged people!
ReplyDelete>Missing the point.
DeleteExactly
Delete@Steven: Really? This whole article, and that's what you took away from it? Sad...
ReplyDeleteI didn't miss the point at all! The technology for practical uses of Hemp are present, and instead of featuring families in neighborhoods that could actually benefit from its features; they present two people that don't have a to struggle with money, or know what it means to make end's meet at the end of the month. Get your head out of the media paradigm, that has brain washed you. Their are real people that could use this application, but you don't see that being covered on the news.
DeleteSteven, you're far off. First, I don't see why you are jealous of wealth. Is it not awesome that they are setting the stage for future beneficial construction? Get your head out of your ass. By the way, "They are" or "They're". Grammar, son. Learn it.
Deletewww.zeitgeistthemovie.com watch all 3 documentaries then come back with a more informed choice of views and wording (disappointing you choose to be insulting rather than debate with intellect).
DeleteIt's actually "there are". You are both fucking idiots.
DeleteAnd your filthy language makes you an Einstein?
Deletehemp is also used for making ropes and as a filling material in waterfittings, but also for the manufacturing of clothing. And if you have only male plants, there is no production of marihuana. In the nothern of France you can find hundreds of hectars with male canabis plants
ReplyDeleteSteven, can you imagine; "Grow Your Own Home"?
ReplyDeleteEarthbag yoda style homes.
Check out www.hemparchitecture.com for more hemp building innovation
ReplyDeleteIf you still think that cannabis is illegal because of the psychoactive properties you still don't understand how the world works. The sheer industrial abilities and qualities of the plant were enough of a reason, for the people who wanted to keep control of the economic system in the early 1900s, to alter public opinion to get it banned. By the way if you still think that cannabis is a dangerous drug do a little research on the body count of this horrible vegetable...ill save you a little time. Cannabis has never killed a single person as a result of toxicity because in order to overdose you must consume 1,500 pounds in 15 minutes. Also, there are multitudes of medicinal qualities. Without the cannabis plant, or free energy technologies, the human race will continue to be controlled by capitalism.
ReplyDeleteUmmm.....isn't it "evil capitalism" that is making this project possible? I'm sure the owner of this company isn't making the product out of the kindness of his heart. He is in it to make a buck. Innovation comes from capitalism. Otherwise we would still be riding horses and shitting in a hole in the ground.
DeleteWe haven't had capitalism since 1913. Pull your head out of your ass. A free market is why technology exists and a free market did, we would actually be the Jetsons by now. The technology is out there, in a warehouse full of government confiscated breakthroughs in science. The movie Thrive is a great movie to watch. The full movie is on you tube. I suggest checking it out.
DeleteIt isn't "evil capitalism", it's the evil people who had vested interest in things that made much more $ than a cheap sustainable "product" such as hemp
ReplyDeleteCapitalism served us to a point. Now it is crushing us. Not all people do things for the prime reason of making money or to squeeze as much as possible out of their customers. Are you suggesting they should be providing these homes for free?
ReplyDeleteThree words William Henry Hurst!
ReplyDeleteIt's not capitalism and free trade that are crushing us now. Crony capitalism, restricted (for the benefit of certain people) capitalism, unfair laws, lobbying, socialism, and private banks are what are crushing us now. Not to mention the belief that we can do what we want, and all will be well.
ReplyDeleteMarijuana and hemp are two different plants. And if the US wanted to, they could have their own fields of marijuana or restrict growing and all would be fine anyway.
No they are the same plant, one just has a higher THC content. You can smoke hemp; if you want a massive headache that is.
DeleteHemp is made from Cannabis Rudialis , while "marijuana" is either Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis Rudialis is much more fibrous than the other two with a much lower THC and CBD count.
ReplyDeleteMaterial of construction is interesting. The building is not. With a growing world population, housing will also be history. For one family is a waste of space ... a typical western suburbs.
ReplyDeleteThat's "William Randolph Hearst" that was responsible, it conflicted with his timber empire, producing paper for his propaganda machine. As well as the Sinclaire families oil interests being threatened by hemp oil. The diesel engine was designed around hemp oil as a fuel source.
ReplyDeleteWe are not in any danger of over population, there is enough land mass in Australia alone for every person on the planet to have a quarter acre of land, and still wouldn't use 2/3 of the continent. Don't believe the bull shit!
ReplyDeleteThe majority of Australia isn't inhabitable. I mean, unless you're not intrerested in water consumption? Just saying.
ReplyDeleteWe dont have to go to Australia, we can also move to Siberia ! ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATFTZGDiP-0
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ReplyDelete