h๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด h๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ
- Eric Gratacap
- Oct 17, 2024
- 2 min read
Hemp, once a staple crop in the 1800s, was stifled by the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act in the US over its ties to marijuana. Now, it's making a comeback as a sustainable substitute for conventional construction materials, prized for its fire resistance, mold prevention, and moisture control. Hemp is reclaiming its status as an eco-friendly building powerhouse.
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐:ย
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Industrial hemp absorbs between 8 to 15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare of cultivation, outperforming forests which typically capture 2 to 6 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year. Hemp continues this carbon sequestration throughout its lifespan.
๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ: One hectare of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four hectares of trees, highlighting its potential to reduce deforestation.
๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐๐ต: Hemp grows astoundingly quickly, reaching maturity in just 4 months, in stark contrast to trees that can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years.
๐๐ฐ๐ผ-๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ ๐๐๐น๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Hemp's cultivation is kind to our planet. It requires significantly less water than many crops, and its natural ability to deter pests eliminates the need for environmentally harmful pesticides.
๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป:ย
๐ญ. ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ: A mixture of the dried woody core of hemp stalks and a lime-based binder, hempcrete can be cast similarly to concrete. Unlike concrete, which contributes significantly to CO2 emissions, hempcrete sequesters CO2, capturing around 307 kilograms of CO2 per cubic meter.
๐ฎ. ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐: A sustainable alternative to CMU, hemp blocks incorporate the benefits of hempcrete but are pre-formed for ease of construction.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ: With the ability to replace wood-based paper, hemp paper offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative.
๐ฐ. ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐: Used for interior finishes and furnishings, hemp textiles are durable, sustainable, and eco-friendly.
๐ฑ. ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Leveraging hemp's insulative properties, hemp-based insulation is not only effective but also environmentally friendly. With its ability to trap and hold air, hemp insulation offers exceptional thermal resistance.
The future of construction is green, and hemp is at the forefront of this revolution. As researchers and builders delve deeper into its potential, we're poised to see even more innovations that benefit not only our buildings but also our planet.
