US government funds research to isolate hemp fiber as an environmentally friendly alternative

Globally, there has been a lot of focus and focus on green initiatives in all sectors, and the Feds are starting to take this seriously. One way to demonstrate your commitment to environmental sustainability is to invest in a hemp fiber insulation project.

The investment of the DOE

The US Department of Energy has sponsored an initiative that will enable the development of hemp fiber insulation. The initiative will focus on public health, safety and improving the environment.

The investment includes an annual grant of $ 90,000 and an additional $ 200,000 to Tommy Gibbons, COO of Hempitecture of Idaho. That goal can be achieved through research, and Gibbons is optimistic that his company can do productive research to achieve the goal.

DOE partnered with Gibbons’ company because the company has a hemp wool product that is known to be the “most sustainable” and best performing insulation material in the world. It’s a non-toxic alternative to other traditional forms of insulation and has robust thermal resistance with a tiny carbon footprint.

Gibbons claims the DOE wants to investigate the decarbonization perspective of insulation and building materials made from hemp fibers. His Hempitecture Company will then conduct research and testing on novel mixtures of insulation materials to increase the value of insulation and fire resistance.

The search for new environmental solutions in the construction industry

As the world began to see a new reality about how other building materials negatively impact the environment, the search for alternative solutions began in earnest. Individuals and government institutions are keen to rebuild the infrastructure to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment.

In line with this new reality, the DOE launched the Innovation Crossroads Program, which is in line with the Biden government’s goal of promoting dependence on clean energy. President Biden is committed to reducing CO2 emissions and has expressed his commitment to this cause by re-joining the Paris Agreement.

Hempitecture’s DOE funding is a unique way of realizing that hemp is indeed an environmentally friendly investment that will add value to the American construction sector1. In April 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would grant a Washington-based company a $ 100,000 grant.

The grant was a commitment to build environmentally friendly blocks from industrial hemp. One of the 24 recipients is Earth Merchant, a small company that runs innovative research programs. Earth Merchant also has a hemp-based product called OlogyBricks, which is a carbon negative, durable and lightweight replacement for regular building bricks.

Conventional building bricks are made from concrete and other non-environmentally friendly materials. This type of brick is gradually being removed from the construction industry to make hemp concrete products. The new hemp concrete building materials will increase energy efficiency and maintain healthy indoor air quality in single-family homes.

The grants offered by the EPA are not the first time the agency has made an effort to invest in sustainable environmental alternatives. In 2019, the agency also awarded a research team led by students from the University of California at Riverside with a $ 12,000 grant. The grant was offered to support a study of hemp, which is believed to be a relevant, sustainable fiber for construction.

2019 was a good year for the hemp industry as America saw the rise and rise of hemp in the construction industry. That year, Republican MP Tulsi Gabbard tabled a bill aimed at modernizing the hemp sector.

The bill also aimed at developing quirky guidelines to stimulate the hemp industry. It stimulates federal efforts to research a variety of unique uses for hemp, particularly as an alternative to concrete.

Interest in hemp fiber insulation has become a bipartisan issue as former President Trump’s supporters have formed a coalition focused on hemp research. They are looking for ways to build a wall on the Mexican border to build hemp blocks. The group had already started the consultation process by reaching out to a Kansas hemp company to confirm the possibility of a hemp concrete wall on the southern border.

So what’s the big thing about hemp fiber insulation?

Well, hemp is a low-carbon, long-lasting option that has been used since ancient times and is currently the preferred building material for environmentally conscious home builders.

The hemp insulation is made from hemp fiber, with the end result being a breathable and resilient alternative to concrete. Its low conductivity and increased thermal mass make the building cooler in summer and warm in winter.

So there are many more hemp insulation offerings for the construction industry that concrete cannot. In addition to the other benefits discussed above, hemp insulation can be reusable if it is in good condition; it does not encourage the colonization of pests and is ideal for energy recovery.

Hemp insulation is best for wooden structures because it doesn’t allow moisture to accumulate in the wood. The insulation idea is one of the most popular uses for hemp plants, so more and more hemp farmers are smiling into the bank because there is currently a lot of interest in the hemp market.

If you’re interested in growing hemp, this is an excellent time to take it seriously as the plant will play a vital role in the construction sector going forward.

Bottom line

With such good news about the DOE’s investment in hemp fiber insulation, it’s more obvious to anyone that the hemp / cannabis industry is adding value to the American economy. Not only is hemp a valuable material used in skin care, medicine, and beauty, it also represents the future of insulation today as an environmentally friendly option.

This is also further confirmation that the hemp industry is strategically positioned as the most preferred material that is safer and healthier for the environment. Investors like the DOE are already using this innovation; if you haven’t already, go ahead !!