A stronger, and more environmentally friendly alternative to concrete, Hempcrete is just another way in which the hemp plant can be used. The material has been in use in Europe for about ten years now, but an upcoming symposium, organized by American Lime Technology and Olde World Exteriors, will be showcasing its potential stateside. As the press release explains:
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) October 8, 2008 — American Lime Technology and Olde World Exteriors are pleased to announce their upcoming architectural symposium on environmentally-friendly hemp and lime biocomposite building materials. This event, titled “Designing with Hemp and Lime Biocomposite,” will take place on November 12, 2008 in Montgomery, Texas and will feature world-recognized experts and practitioners in the field of sustainable design and construction. [...] There will also be onsite demonstrations of hemp and lime construction techniques, and attendees will enjoy a tour of the Hopewell Project, including the Pottery Studio and Chapel, which is the first Tradical® Hemcrete® building project constructed in the United States. [...]
While new to the American market, Hemcrete® has been used successfully in the United Kingdom and Europe for over ten years. This system, which relies on sustainably produced hemp shiv and lime binder, is being used to construct walls and to insulate floors and roofs, making it a low impact, sustainable and commercially viable construction method. The resulting buildings are thermally efficient, attractive, pest-resistant, fire-resistant, and durable, and these nontoxic, all-natural materials contain no harmful chemicals. Unlike typical new construction materials, hemp and lime are breathable, which discourages harmful mold growth while providing better air quality for the building’s occupants. Hemcrete® is also completely recyclable and can be converted to fertilizer at the end of a building’s lifespan.
There more information available at both the press release page and the symposium page. You can also find more information on the advantages of hempcrete on American Lime Technology’s Why Use Hempcrete® page. There is also a very good overview of various hemp-based building materials available from Natural-Environment.com.
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