SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS: HEMPCRETE
THE FUTURE IS GREENER WITH ECO FRIENDLY BUILDING MATERIALS
In our search for more sustainable building materials, we believe hempcrete to be one of the best eco building solutions we have found. As well as creating efficient insulation, walls made of hempcrete also transmit humidity, making them resistant to mould. In addition, hempcrete’s acoustic properties are excellent, and it is also fireproof. When it comes to construction products, and eco friendly building materials in particular, that’s a long list of positive qualities. Especially as it is made using a material that is traditionally the by-product of fibre production.
“One of the great benefits of buildings constructed using hempcrete is that heating requirements can be greatly reduced.”
HEMPCRETE IS A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT
During the processing of hemp, jute, and flax, the woody refuse that is found at the core of the hemp plant is removed. This waste material is known as hemp shiv, shives or hurd. Mixed with lime and water it can be turned into an eco building material that, when dry, is both lightweight and durable. It can be used to form walls within a supporting frame of timber and because it isn’t as brittle as traditional concrete it doesn’t require expansion joints. Hempcrete can also be made into building blocks that can be manufactured elsewhere and brought to site after curing. Internally, the hempcrete blocks can be left exposed or they can be finished with a plaster that can also be made using hemp. External walls can be protected with a sand and lime coating. One of the great benefits of buildings constructed using hempcrete is that heating requirements can be greatly reduced. This is because the hempcrete walls absorb heat during the day and then slowly release it back into the building as the temperature falls at night leading to a more consistent thermal comfort throughout.
Hempcrete is what’s known as a bio-composite material. Simply put, this means that it contains natural fibres rather than synthetic or man-made fibres. Hemp is a renewable crop which makes it a sustainable product in itself. In addition, as it grows it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which is then locked into the hempcrete walls offering positive environmental benefits. The carbon-storing properties of hempcrete make it carbon negative. Whereas, the production of traditional bricks actually emits a considerable quantity of CO2 during the firing process due to the amount of energy it uses.
As well as hempcrete, there are other sustainable building materials that can be made from the hemp plant. By compressing the hemp shiv it can be made into a fibreboard that can be used instead of MDF for a variety of construction applications. Hemp can also be used for insulation, in lofts for example. All of these eco building products are ideal for new build and renovation projects alike. As they are taken up more and more by builders like us who are seeking eco building solutions, it will have a growing positive effect on the immediate environment in which we live, as well as on the planet in general – creating a greener future for us all.
Find out more about our green ethos.