Hempcrete -
the Perfect Building Material
We have searched for a long time to find a building material that we think is "perfect". We have finally found it - hempcrete! Hempcrete is the combination of hemp shivs (the part left over after the fibers are extracted), lime, and water. It is stronger than concrete and three times more resistant to cracking under earthquake pressures than concrete is. Hempcrete is six times lighter than concrete, is breathable, waterproof, and fireproof. It's is totally recyclable, yet doesn't rot when it is used above grade. It also insulates well, looks great, and can be used in a multitude of applications. It is easy to use and will last for generations as it petrifies as it ages which will help keep it around for hundreds of years as opposed to the 40-100 years typical of traditional building materials. One of the best parts about hempcrete is that it is carbon negative. The CO2 that is bound in the growing of the hemp is greater than CO2 created in the production of the lime. So, using hempcrete in construction projects is a help to the environment. What more could a builder want?
Well, we want legal status as an "approved building material"! In many places, hempcrete (and hemp in general) is illegal simply because hemp comes from the cannabis family - the same family of plants that marijuana comes from. Now, hemp cannot be used to "get high" as marijuana can because it contains no THC. So outlawing hemp makes about as much sense to us as it would to outlaw horses because they come from the same family as donkeys - given the concept that some lawmakers might dislike donkeys enough to ban them. This debate calls for another day and another page!
So for now, check out these videos and decide on the merits of hempcrete for yourself! We think you'll agree with us that it makes a lot of sense in the building world!
Well, we want legal status as an "approved building material"! In many places, hempcrete (and hemp in general) is illegal simply because hemp comes from the cannabis family - the same family of plants that marijuana comes from. Now, hemp cannot be used to "get high" as marijuana can because it contains no THC. So outlawing hemp makes about as much sense to us as it would to outlaw horses because they come from the same family as donkeys - given the concept that some lawmakers might dislike donkeys enough to ban them. This debate calls for another day and another page!
So for now, check out these videos and decide on the merits of hempcrete for yourself! We think you'll agree with us that it makes a lot of sense in the building world!
For those of you who would like to see hempcrete in action, the following two videos are sheerly construction in progress with no frills.
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