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Industrial Hemp for Insulation ! by Mitchell Melber , contributing writer
The industrial hemp industry grew exponentially in 2022 with the help of industry leaders and farmers . These partnerships have created markets for industrial hemp products all across the country and the world . The year 2023 marks the first year since prohibition that more industrial hemp will be grown per acre than hemp grown for cannabinoid use . During prohibition , Missouri and Kentucky were the only states allowed to grow industrial hemp for the WWII war cause . This results from the two states historically leading the country in the 1920s for acres grown in hemp . At that time , industrial hemp was grown for fabrics and rope for U . S . soldiers . Now that the crop is federally legal , many more uses have evolved , including animal bedding , hemp-based plastics , flooring , wood substitutes , animal feed , fuel , and insulation , the most widely used . As more knowledge is available about how to grow industrial hemp , markets will continue to flourish .
Reasons to grow industrial hemp .
Industrial hemp has proven to be the best crop for soil remediation due to its long tap root system . Soil remediation is important due to the long-term use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides over the past 100 years . Synthetic fertilizers are the number one reason for river and stream pollution . This pollution decreases the availability of quality drinking water for humans . The long tap root helps prevent soil erosion , aerates the soil for future crop rotation , and deposits Nitrogen into the soil essential for plant growth in corn and other plants that utilize Nitrogen . Industrial hemp has been scientifically proven to absorb more CO2 per hectare ( 2.471 acres ) than any forest or commercial crop . Carbon sequestration alone can capture 15 tons of CO2 per hectare .
Hemp insulation is the largest use of industrial hemp currently in the world . Hemp products that insulate range from rolled batts , hempcrete , and loose fill . The most effective and efficient insulation type is loose-fill insulation since it results in a faster installation process . For instance , a 3,000-square-foot attic space only takes four hours to install loose fill , whereas insulation batts will take more than a day to install with no difference in end performance . Hempcrete , on the other hand , takes weeks to dry and is only used in the studs of interior and exterior walls . Loose-fill hemp insulation is great for attics of homes .
The objective of insulation is to keep the home cool in the summer and warm in the winter , leading to lower energy bills for the homeowner . Another factor to consider is the soundproofing ability of hemp insulation . For residents in any metropolitan area , plane traffic can be heard , which is the result of a poorly insulated attic .
According to the Department of Energy , after installing hemp insulation according to individual state building codes , consumers can save 20 % -50 % on energy bills . This alone affects carbon emissions from continuously running the home ’ s AC unit . “ AC units use about 6 % of the electricity produced in the United States , at an annual cost of about $ 29 billion to the homeowner . As a result , roughly 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are released in the air each year .” 1 By applying hemp insulation in your attic , homeowners are reducing their carbon footprint from the hemp sequestration as it is grown and how the hemp material is used in this particular application to reduce energy costs . Loose-fill hemp insulation is made from hemp hurd and natural fibers , which has an R-value of 3.5 per square inch . In Missouri , the standard building code for insulation is R38 +, which requires almost 11 inches of insulation installed . Each state has different building codes depending on the latitudinal location of the state .
Comparing Hemp / Fiberglass / Cellulose Insulative Properties
Hemp and cellulose insulation are comparable in that both receive an R value of 3.5 per square inch ; however , there are more advantageous benefits to using hemp .
● Fiberglass insulation only has a blown-in R-value of 2.5 per square inch , requiring more insulation .
● Fiberglass insulation is made from synthetic fibers using formaldehyde that have been linked to cancer when breathed in .
● The synthetic fibers made from fiberglass are micron-sized , which can cut a human resulting in itchy rashes .
● Hemp insulation is less dusty , leading to reduced allergenic problems within the house , resulting from how hemp fibers are processed through a decorticator , minimizing dust particles . Although most think insulation in an attic won ’ t influence the air quality in the rest of the home , it does . The only way to eliminate air flow from an attic to a livable home space is with a two-part foam spray that eliminates air leakage between the attic and living space .
● The hemp fibers used for insulation are hygroscopic , providing a great natural vapor barrier for humidity control . By controlling humidity in an attic , it expunges the ability for mold to grow . If mold was to grow in an attic , asbestos could grow and potentially harm the house ’ s residents .
● Cellulose insulation is primarily made from recycled paper that was once a tree . Trees need 30 years of growth before they can be harvested , whereas hemp only needs one growing season or ,
52 April 2023