3D-printed hemp homes could revolutionise the construction industry
More architects and builders are turning to hemp as a sustainable material to use when building homes, and with 3D-printing technology, hemp is going to become even more of a realistic alternative to traditional materials, which are not environmentally friendly and in very short supply.
An Australian based biotechnology company called Mirreco Group has recently unveiled plans for 3D printed hemp homes. The company cites environmental concerns as some of their primary motivations.
The company has developed hemp panels that can be used in both residential and commercial building projects. Furthermore, the panels can be manufactured directly through a 3D-printer, and then used to build the structure of the home. Mirreco says that the panels are “structurally sound, easy to produce, and provide superior thermal performance.”
A statement from the company said, “Just imagine living and working in buildings that are 3D-printed and available to move into in only a matter of weeks. The floors, walls and roof will all be made using hemp biomass, and the windows will incorporate cutting-edge technology that allows light to pass through glass where it is converted into electricity.”
Mirreco touts the carbon-neutral status of their building process and materials, but there are other ways that hemp homes can be beneficial for the environment. Beyond the concerns of greenhouse gas emissions, there is simply not enough sand to sustain the increasing demand for conventional concrete. This poses yet another environmental crisis, as the specific type of sand needed for concrete is often harvested from riverbeds, which destroys ecosystems and threatens the biodiversity of plants, fish, and animals. It isn’t something that people think about often, but sand is the second most used natural resource in the world, surpassed only by water.
While traditional hempcrete construction has existed throughout history, 3D printed hemp building is a new frontier of technological innovation and green industry.
Source: https://truththeory.com/2019/10/06/company-building-hemp-homes-using-3d-printing-technology/