HempLime/Construction
-Jorgen Hempel, founder of HempEcoSystem
HES VisionHarmony between human activities and natural environment is the essential condition of our future
To answer at the same time to environmental objectives exposed notably during COP 21 conference and the stakes regarding public health, we want to change from now on the way of designing and constructing buildings.
HES Mission
To do so, we believe that the answer is in Nature. It's why we developed natural, sustainable, bio-based materials as a unique alternative to current carbon-based solutions to:
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build and renovate all kind of buildings with high energy efficiency and very low carbon impact
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provide inhabitants with a safe, healthy and comfortable indoor climate
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act now to make an environmental and social impact and change the way we build.
Short story of Hemp Eco Systems and our product
The use of a wasted material
Some 20 years ago, french Yves Kühn and danish Jorgen Hempel discovered and developed Hemp as a promising building material. The Cannabis Sativa, also known as industrial hemp, produces seeds and fibers, while the stem (wood) was a waste material. It was also discovered that this wood contains a high percentage of Silica, which made it resistant to fire and rot. This was precisely what was necessary to make a valid building material. The wood was chopped up, wetted and mixed with different binders, principally lime (Calcium carbonate).
A test market
The hemp/lime mixture became a most efficient insulation material and its qualities as a humidity regulator was discovered. Hundreds of houses were built and renovated mainly in France during the 90s, for the ecological oriented market.
A global concern emerges
During the first decade of the 2000s, the world became concerned with energy, pollution and depletion of raw materials which suddenly gave the product new perspectives.
The re-discovery of hydrated lime
During the years 2010, Jorgen Hempel and his technicians became aware that hydrated lime (pure Calcium Carbonate) would be the ideal binder for the hemp. Calcium Carbonate exists in abundance all over the world, transformed into powder and humidified it carbonates and slowly returns by a natural process to its original state of Calcium Carbonate by taking up CO2. This type of lime mixed with hemp would be the ideal low energy consuming and zero polluting building material, able to produce a CO2 free, alkaline indoor climate for health and well-being. The problem was that the lime needed 4-6 months to cure.
An invention to solve a 2000 years problem
This problem was studied and after many trials, 4 natural minerals that would cure the lime in 1-2 days without losing the precious uptake of CO2, were found. A patent was filed and HES won the 1st prize at the international Bio-material conference at Cologne in April 2014. We had solved a 2000 years problem and possessed now a unique material that responds to all requirements of the future: using nature as a supplier, natural clean materials, energy saving, humidity regulating and foremost good for people's health and well-being.
What you should know about indoor pollution
Indoor air pollution is something every home in the world struggles with. Since 1970 homes have been built “tighter” to conserve energy. But that same tight construction reduces ventilation, traps indoor air pollutants inside your home and could be making you sick. Here are seven facts and statistics regarding your health and your home’s indoor air quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
1. You spend about 90% of your time indoors. At work, at school and at home, if you are like most people, you spend almost all of your time inside. This should be a major concern when you consider this and the next fact together.
2. The quality of indoor air can be two to five times (and even up to 100 times) more polluted than the worst outside air. Most people recognize the health concerns that outdoor air pollution poses, but few consider that exposure to poor indoor air quality has the same ill health effects.
3. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers.The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized that poor indoor air pollution is a very real problem and ranked it among the top of the environmental dangers facing the public.
4. There has been an alarming increase in the number of children with severe allergies and asthma. The quantity of children and young adults with severe allergies and asthma continues to climb every year. This has been linked to increasingly poor indoor air quality.
5. Allergies, asthma, lung cancer and heart problems have all been linked to poor air quality. The American Heart Association has linked poor air quality to heart problems while the American Lung Association lists it as a leading cause of lung cancer.
6. Sources of indoor air pollution are all around you. Studies conducted by the EPA have shown that indoor air pollution is a problem for all types of homes, whether in a dense urban city or a rural town.
Some of the sources include:
- Combustion sources: gas, oil, kerosene and wood stoves or fireplaces, tobacco smoke
- Building materials: insulation, carpet, cabinetry, pressed wood products
- Chemical products: cleaning products, personal care products, glues, pastes
- Outdoor sources: radon, pesticides, pollen, outdoor air pollution
- Other: pet dander, dust mites, mold, virus
Warm winter affects the quantity of pollen which counts are 800% higher (or 8 times greater) than normal and will find their way INTO YOUR HOME.
7. You inhale approximately 15,000 or more quarts of air per day. You likely understand the health benefits of clean water, of which you consume about two quarts per day. Yet, most people are unaware of or ignore the importance of breathing clean air, as well.
A positive impact for Humans and Nature, now.
All information from www.hemplime.com