General News
29 November, 2022
The house that hemp built
SIMPSON’S Wim Kampschoer is building a house. But not just any house.
SIMPSON’S Wim Kampschoer is building a house. But not just any house.
The home which is still in construction will have the lofty aim of reaching an eight star energy rating.
While it looks like an ordinary home from the outside, the walls have actually being constructed using a material called hempcrete.
Hempcrete is made of the woody part of the stem of a hemp plant, combined with lime binder, water, and sometimes sand.
Mr Kampschoer said his son, who was an architect, had designed the home.
“My son designed the house and he came up with the idea to use hempcrete to lessen our environmental impact,” he said.
“Eight stars is our aim.
“We will have solar panels on the shed and have a heat pump water service.
“We have had to put a fair bit of thoughtinto it.”
Mr Kampschoer said the idea of using hempcrete had appealed to him and he had done research on the use of the materialin Australia.
“Brick claddings take a lot of fuel to produce, this stuff takes less energy,” he siad.
“It’s carbon negative in principle.”
Mr Kampschoer said the build had started in May officially and the hempcrete process had taken about two weeks which was comparative to using a brick frame.
He said it was an interesting process to watch as the house takes shape.
“It’s totally different, but it’s interesting,” Mr Kampschoer said.
“I’m rapt in the product and it’s potential.
“It’s a potential.”
