South Cook News

The Build Green Hempcrete Workshop was held in Chicago from Oct. 7-10.

It provided insights into Hempcrete's applications, emphasizing its role as a breathable, non-toxic and carbon-neutral alternative to traditional construction materials and aimed to promote green living and clean energy initiatives in Illinois.

The workshop showcased the sustainable building material to architects, builders, developers and other industry professionals interested in learning practical skills and gaining understanding of Hempcrete's applications for sustainable construction.

“Hempcrete is a biocomposite material, composed primarily of a hemp mixture of the inner woody core of the hemp planthurds (shives), water, and lime,” a press release noting the workshop said of the material.

“Hempcrete is easier to work with than traditional lime mixes and acts as an insulator, negating the need for insulation, moisture regulator, and replaces the need for drywall. It lacks the brittleness of concrete and consequently does not need expansion joints."

“The result is a lightweight insulating material, finishing plaster, or a non-load bearing wall, ideal for most climates as it combines insulation and thermal mass while providing a positive impact on the environment. Hempcrete is even fire resistant, with a torch needing 17 hours to burn through a block, and pest-resistant.”

Hempcrete is available for purchase in the Chicagoland area and is being marketed through a partnership between Traci Quinn, CEO of Pink Hats Construction and Development Group, and Katharine Thomas, CEO of Eleven 11 Farms.

The workshop was held at St. Augustine College in Chicago.

It offered a comprehensive experience, including mastering the environmental benefits of Hempcrete, hands-on sessions for working with the material, real-world project insights, expert-led sustainability discussions, activities and networking opportunities.

“It’s a great turnover for corn and soy farmers, when they remediate their land after harvest, to grow hemp for a year. It absorbs all of the carbon, all of the metals out of the soil,” Quinn told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The workshop introduced around 50 participants to the potential of Hempcrete as a sustainable and eco-friendly building material, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“No one really is teaching us this. It was a great opportunity,” Laura Felix, a student in St. Augustine College’s construction pre-apprenticeship program, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s not something that we’re exposed to on the daily.”

Participants were provided knowledge to integrate Hempcrete into their construction projects.

“Today we are wrapping up our incredible 4-day Hempcrete Certification Workshop in the heart of Chicago!” the Build Green Hempcrete Workshop said on Facebook.

“Huge thanks to all our dedicated participants for their passion and commitment to sustainable construction.”

“Special shoutout to our amazing sponsors who made this event possible. Together, we're building a greener future for our city and the planet.”

Co-sponsor of the workshop, Pink Hats Construction and Development Group, is a full service contractor that provides opportunities for women to enter the construction workforce.