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US building designers are promoting the use of hemp, a strain of cannabis, to create low-carbon, thermally efficient building materials, The Guardian reported last week. Companies like Hempitecture in the US and Hempcrete in the UK are using Hempcrete, a mixture of hemp and lime, to build everything from cottages and sports centers.
What is it? Hempcrete is a unified wall system that incorporates hemp hurd, lime, and a hydraulic additive, built over a structural framework. The technology isn’t new but it has been gaining traction as a replacement material in construction to reduce the emissions of the cement industry which accounts for about 8% of global CO2 emissions.
What makes it climate friendly? Hempcrete is non-toxic, fire-resistant, and mold-resistant, the Guardian writes. The building material can capture more than twice its weight in CO2 through photosynthesis, making it an excellent solution for reducing emissions. It also provides better insulation and reduces the need for heating and cooling, and can be easily transported and adapted to different climates.
But there are drawbacks: The industry is still nascent and faces challenges such as a lack of know-how regarding cultivation and processing, especially in the US, where hemp cultivation was banned from 1937 to 2018. Other challenges include that it doesn’t offer strong mechanical performance and structural support which can limit its applications.
