House Built From Hemp Is Full Of Green Surprises

[n2doc]

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09. 2.10



In much of the world, hemp is thought of as a useful building material; Warren recently showed us an interesting house from Australia and it is common in the UK. But in America, it is still the butt of hippie jokes; Matt Hickman of the Mother Nature Networks describes a new house in Asheville, North Carolina with references to Tommy Chong and describes the interior: "there's not a blacklight poster, hanging spider plant, or crumpled up Cheetos bag in sight." Discovery News says "Put aside old visions of burlap-like shirts that belong with hacky sacks." Even the owner tells CNN ""We heard that we could have a really great neighborhood party if it ever caught on fire."

It's a shame that everyone is focusing on that, because it is just one interesting product in a fascinating house that is full of surprises.


The stuff isn't structural, so the house has a wood frame, but it is a great insulator and sound absorbent, and will give a complete seal. It's neat stuff; it is a shame that it has to be imported from the UK because American attitudes to hemp are so silly. That is why all the sniggering and bad jokes make me so cranky; it deserves better.


more

http://news.discovery.com/tech/hemp-tech-sneaks-over-the-border.html

Hemp is a hardy plant that grows quickly, and hempcrete is an excellent insulator. According to CNN, the 3,400 square foot house's recent month cooling bill was $100.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/house-built-from-hemp-is-full-of-green-surprises.php

[ensho]

1. the US is being totally stupid when it comes to hemp but the Barons

hold sway in D.C.

[NC_Nurse]

2. What's the US NOT being totally stupid about? Amazing, isn't it?

[ensho]

3. yes, amazingly stupid

nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. What does Mike Holmes think about it?

[IDemo]

5. Tons of hemp were used on this American structure:

back when the value of hemp was actually recognized.

USS Constitution

[ensho]

6. super, thanks for posting - I didn't know about the ship (s)

nt

[Blue Meany]

7. Wasn't hemp banned to cut competition for nylon? n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Probably also paper and cotton and anything else it could compete with.