Blog
Feeling the Cold? Making Your Home Work Harder
As the temperature drops, we look at ways to improve comfort in our homes and show a home for the future, that is here now!
HEMSPAN®
Growing the buildings of the future
Bio-based Construction
Bio-based Construction
Technologies
HEMSPAN® is a construction technology business developing bio-based, circular systems to capture and store atmospheric carbon in buildings.
-
Design, Manufacture & Delivery of Carbon Negative Homes
Our BOPAS certified BIOHAUS® system is setting the benchmark for design and performance in construction technology using bio-based materials to eliminate embodied carbon for new homes and public buildings. Our panellised whole-house system provides a high-performing and versatile super-structure for rapid on-site assembly.
-
Research & Development
Our ambitious R&D programmes include the development of bio-based weather-boarding, bio-based insulated cladding solutions for residential and commercial construction, and advancing our modular design for offsite manufacturing.
Our projects are designed to further support future hemp and bio-based development of products for the mass market.
-
Scaling and Expansion
Working with our engineering and distribution partners, we will ensure hemp and bio-based materials are viable and preferable options in the industry, providing durable and energy-efficient solutions to become the premier choice in future buildings.
-
Supporting UK Hemp Farming
By developing hemp-based building products, we will support UK farmers, local manufacturing and meet the growing demands of providing more construction options to build environmentally conscious homes.
Change is needed and fast
Embodied Carbon Emissions Have Been Overlooked
Achieving drastic cuts in all carbon emissions over the next decade is critical to keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C.
Therefore, addressing upfront carbon is crucial to fighting the climate crisis. New construction is expected to double the world’s building stock by 2060, causing an increase in the carbon emissions occurring right now.
Coordinated action from across the construction sector is required to dramatically change the way buildings are designed, built, used and deconstructed.
The Solution is Hemp
01
One hectare of UK-grown industrial hemp can absorb 11 tonnes of CO2 into its stem each year.
02
Regeneratively farmed hemp has the capacity to sequester a further 6 tonnes per hectare of CO2 into the soil each year.
03
Hemp can be turned into bio-based insulation and bio-cladding combining with structural timber to deliver carbon negative building systems.
Additional Benefits of Hemp
-
Sustainable and Low
Embodied EnergyHemp requires very little water, maintenance and no herbicides or chemical pesticides. As an annual crop, it can be grown in just 4 months to full growth and needs little processing to produce, making it a key source to help fight deforestation.
When (male) hemp flowers bloom, they are a great source of pollen for bees which is an added benefit for our wildlife.
-
Thermal Insulation
As a medium-density insulation material, hemp is safe, efficient and durable. Low conductivity and a higher thermal mass enable it to retain heat and regulate thermal performance for a comfortable internal environment. Another benefit of hemp insulation is its excellent acoustic isolation and noise-reducing properties.
-
A Building That Breathes
Building with hemp prevents condensation. Hemp insulation can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture without affecting performance.
Hemp insulation can also release moisture when required and regulate internal humidity. This eco-friendly insulation is resistant to mould, which aids in the prevention of damp issues.
-
The Versatile Plant
100% of a hemp crop can be used, and hemp farming has around 25,000 uses. Once harvested, the softer leaves, flowers and seeds are utilised within the beauty and food industry.
The rest of the plant can be used for livestock or textiles, and the stem can be used in natural fibre and building materials, such as hemp insulation. Nothing needs to go to waste; what is produced is biodegradable and recyclable, making it truly eco-friendly.
-
Crop Enhancer
Hemp is an excellent plant for adding diversity to crop rotation, with roots growing deep into the soil, which can help absorb harmful chemicals left behind from cash crops.
Not only is hemp eco-friendly. It can also help reduce erosion, loosen the soil and naturally regenerate beneficial nutrients back into the soil.
Latest Stories
Blog
Rochford Park | A Blueprint for Sustainable Living
Rochford Park, Essex: A model for sustainable living and thriving communities. 2,000 climate-positive homes, green spaces, and hundreds of new jobs.
BlogPress
The 11th Hemp Building Symposium: An Overview
Earlier this month our analyst, Dermot Moore attended the 11th Hemp Symposium in the Netherlands. Over the course of two days there were a variety of demonstrations and speakers. Here is is overview.
Where It All Started
Co-Founder Inspiration: Steve Barron TEDx
Watch Steve's inspiring talk on his journey into hemp farming. He shares his story and vision as well as the reasons hemp should be the crop of the future.
Partners & Collaborators
