After participating in a green building workshop, Larry Hill, a mason with asthma and bronchitis, is considering using hempcrete as a solution for construction. Hill often has to tear out and redo the interior of buildings he purchases due to mold and other respiratory irritants. Eager to explore natural and nontoxic building materials, Hill is particularly interested in hempcrete.
Hempcrete is a sustainable building material made from the woody interior of the hemp stalk. Unlike traditional concrete, hempcrete follows the ancient Roman concrete model and actually pulls carbon from the atmosphere. Hill sees hempcrete as the future of construction and believes it has a rich historical background that is making a comeback.
The Building Green Hempcrete Workshop, organized by Pink Hats Construction and Development Group and Eleven 11 Farms, attracted around 50 participants including investors, students, architects, tradespeople, and farmers. The workshop aimed to explore the industrial applications of hemp.
Hempcrete is versatile and can be used for insulation, wallboard, partition walls, textiles, and flooring. Traci Quinn, CEO of Pink Hats Construction and Development Group, emphasized the importance of bringing green living to the Midwest and helping Illinois reach its goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. Hempcrete’s ability to absorb energy also makes it a generator of carbon credits.
While there are some drawbacks to hempcrete, such as its inability to be used for load-bearing walls and its limited availability, the workshop focused on addressing these challenges. Quinn expressed the company’s desire to work with local farmers to grow hemp and revive their soil between crop seasons. Hemp absorbs carbon and heavy metals from the soil, making it a beneficial crop for corn and soy farmers.
The U.S. industrial hemp market is still relatively new, with hemp only being legal for industrial purposes for around four to five years. Most of the hemp used in the country still needs to be imported. However, the workshop aimed to promote hemp usage and make a positive difference in the world.
Aside from its eco-friendly properties, hempcrete also offers protection against fires, making it suitable for areas prone to wildfires. Melvin Henley, CEO and president of PAC Leaders construction company, found the workshop invaluable, not just for his own understanding but also for training others in hempcrete construction.
Participants like Laura Felix, a student in a construction pre-apprenticeship program, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn about hempcrete. Gude Bernardez, an attendee from Mexico, was amazed by the material and is eager to introduce it to her home country, where there might be misconceptions about hemp’s association with marijuana.
Overall, the green building workshop sparked enthusiasm among participants for the potential of hempcrete as a sustainable and beneficial construction material. With its ability to absorb carbon and promote green living, hempcrete represents a step towards a greener future in the construction industry.
