Climate

Skiing and snowboarding are great ways to be outdoors during winter. Nevertheless, the impact of ski resorts on the environment is huge: they rely on a complex and energy-demanding infrastructure, with scores of employees and heavy use of water. While many ski-resort owners are switching to environmentally friendly practices such as renewable energy, recycling and composting, some feel that these adjustments fail to mitigate the overall negative effect of ski areas on the environment. What is the solution? Ski Resorts Water Use How do ski resorts make fake snow? Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun," also known as a "snow cannon." Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. The production of snow requires low temperatures. The threshold temperature for snowmaking increases as humidity decreases. One of the problems is the excessive amount of water use in ski resorts. As a result of global climate change, most ski areas experience winters of increasingly shorter duration. If the snow base falls below a certain level, resort managers must use artificial snow-making systems. Artificial snow is made by mixing large volumes of water and high-pressure air, so the process demands an abundance of water and energy. When the water is taken from the local rivers and streams, it has a negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Are there chemicals in artificial snow? There are two main kinds of artificial snow: powders and spray-on aerosols. The powders that turn into artificial snow flakes when mixed with water are sometimes called instant snow. The mixture is almost entirely water (99%), but a very small amount is made out of a non-toxic polymer. {youtube}                                       Behind the Scenes - How Snowmaking at Ski Resorts Works                                       Ski Resorts Environmental Impact And Sustainability Efforts   Skiers Wildlife  Disturbance How bad is skiing for the environment? The impact of skiing in mountainous environments is negative as trees need to be cut down to make way for the skiers and ski lifts. Not only is the lack of trees affecting the environment, but it is also affecting the animals that live in the trees. It can be said that skiing is bad for the environment in this sense. Alpine habitats above the tree line are already threatened by global climate change, and disturbance from skiers is one more stressor. These disturbances can come from scaring wildlife or harming their habitat by damaging vegetation and compacting soils. An example: the population of black grouse, a creature that lives in the Swiss Alps, is usually found at half its normal density around ski areas. Photo by: Mike Lane. Two Black Grouse fighting Recommended:  Climate Change Causes Nature To Change: The World Affected Ski Trails Land Use Change To create ski trails, a large amount of clear-cutting in forested areas is required. The resulting fragmented landscape negatively impacts habitat quality for many bird and mammal species. Also: wind, light, and disturbance levels increase near the open slopes, reducing habitat quality. To create ski trailers, a large amount of clear-cutting in forested areas is required. The resulting fragmented landscape negatively impacts habitat quality for many bird and mammal species. To create new trailers, ski resorts have to remove woody vegetation. The fastest way to achieve that is with a bulldozer, graded to remove tree stumps and any sort of slope irregularity. This process reduces topsoil depth and causes soil erosion. Also: wind, light, and disturbance levels increase near the open slopes, reducing habitat quality. Recommended:  Deforestation: No! Celebrate National Tree Day With WhatsOrb Fossil Fuel Energy Resort skiing is an energy-intensive operation, relying on fossil fuels, producing greenhouse gases and contributing to global warming. For example: ski lifts usually run on electricity, and operating a single ski lift for a month requires about the same energy needed to power 3.8 households for a year. Another one: to maintain the surface of the snow on the ski runs, a resort deploys nightly a fleet of trail groomers each operating on about 5 gallons of diesel per hour and producing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions. Recommended:  Carbon-Negative Fuel Set: Burning The World To A Better Place A complete estimate of the greenhouse gases emitted in association with resort skiing would need to include those produced by skiers driving or flying to the mountains. Ironically, climate change is affecting most ski regions. As global atmospheric temperatures go up, snowpacks are thinning, and the ski seasons are getting shorter. The environmental costs associated with resort skiing come in multiple dimensions, and so do the solutions. Many ski resorts have made substantial efforts to minimize their environmental impacts. Solar panels, wind turbines, and small hydro turbines have been deployed to supply renewable energy. Improved waste management and composting programs have been implemented, just like green building technologies have been employed. Forest management efforts have been planned to improve wildlife habitat. But it this enough? What did they use for snow in old movies? And it wasn't the only film set to use asbestos in the 1930s. Over the years, filmmakers have used a number of other substances to create the illusion of snow: marble dust in Dr. Zhivago (1965), salt and flour in Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925) and plain old salt in 1978's Superman. Initiatives You Can Take Research, research, research: it is now possible for skiers to gather information about a resort’s sustainability efforts and make informed consumer decisions. An increasing number of outdoor enthusiasts seek snowy slopes by practicing lower-impact forms of skiing. These backcountry skiers and snowboarders use specialized equipment that allows them to make their way up the mountain on their own power, and then to ski down natural terrain that has not been logged or groomed. These skiers have to be self-sufficient and able to mitigate a multitude of mountain-related safety risks. The learning curve is steep, but backcountry skiing has a lighter environmental impact than resort skiing. Before you go! Recommended:  Earth Matters. Nature And Us: What Was, What’s Left: Hope? Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about your wintersport experience? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

About a century ago, mathematician Milutin Milanković wrote about astronomical processes that cause cyclical climate changes. Now evidence has been found that Jupiter and Venus have been influencing our climate since the early dinosaur era, write American geologists in the journal PNAS. Climate Change On Earth Caused By Jupiter And Venus Jupiter and Venus are more than bright lights in the night sky, their effect on the orbit of the earth has been responsible for climate change on our planet for at least 215 million years. Venus Climate On Earth Gets Influenced By Jupiter And Venus For At Least 215 Million Years Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is the second largest terrestrial planet. Venus is sometimes referred to as the Earth’s sister planet due to their similar size and mass. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Facts about Venus Venus does not have any moons or rings Venus is nearly as big as the Earth with a diameter of 12,104 km Venus is thought to be made up of a central iron core, rocky mantle and silicate crust A day on the surface of Venus (solar day) would appear to take 117 Earth days A year on Venus takes 225 Earth days The surface temperature on Venus can reach 471 °C. Almost a century ago, the Serbian mathematician Milutin Milanković predicted long, rhythmic changes in the climate caused by fluctuations in the movement of the earth around the sun. Now a team of American geologists has found 215 million years of evidence for one of those climate cycles. This can help us better understand the history of the earth and that of the solar system. Recommended:  Global Cooling Will Kills Us All. No, Wait Global Warming Will Kill Us! The cycle in question is caused by the gravitational force of the great gas giant Jupiter and our neighboring planet Venus on the earth. They make sure that the orbit in which the earth revolves around the sun is sometimes more outrageous than usual. On a human scale, we notice almost nothing of that change - one cycle from most elliptical to most round and back takes 405,000 years - but this is very interesting for geologists and astrophysicists. What causes Milankovitch cycles? These cycles are caused by changes in the earth's orbit around the sun, like its shape or eccentricity, its precession or wobble, and the tilt of its axis or obliquity. Each of these have a different effect on how much of the sun's energy reaches the earth and when the strongest sunlight occurs. Jupiter Climate Chance & Rocket Science Although we have known the cycle for a long time, it was not yet certain that he was always so stable. The mathematical model of this cycle - based on movements of the celestial bodies - is, according to astrophysicists, reliable until 'only' 50 million years ago. Recommended:  Asteroid Mining: Industrial Revolution And Population Growth "We basically use the same math’s as those with which we send space probes to Mars, and okay, that works," says researcher Paul Olsen of Columbia University in New York. But moving these movements back millions of years and connecting climate change there is something we have not yet fully figured out. The retrieval of such a cycle in old rock layers can help to pull apart the tangle of astronomical movements. A fresh core contains red-colored sediments deposited more than 200 million years ago. The final evidence came from drill cores: pieces of stone that were taken up from the ground with hollow tubes. Those stones came from more than 450 meters underground in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and out of rocks that had previously been mined in New York and New Jersey. In those last nuclei the cycle was already visible, but it could not yet be proven that they actually lasted 405,000 years. What is the oldest ice core sample? Scientists smashed the previous record for the oldest ice core in the world, collecting an ice core that dates back 2.7 million years ago. This is compared to one of the oldest ice cores which extends back 800,000 years, the Antarctic Dome C ice core The Arizona cores provide that evidence, because layers of volcanic ash between the deposits contain radioactive isotopes. Because those isotopes decay in a very predictable way, you can calculate how old the layers are. These ages allowed the researchers to extrapolate to the other centers, with which they could prove that they really had found a cycle of 405,000 years. Climate Change On Earth: The Evolution Of The Powerful Dinosaurs  Photo by: Travis Tischler. Artist’s depiction of Savannasaurus elliottorum based on fossil remains The cycle now found has two brothers caused by changes in the orientation of the earth's axis. Those last two cycles, which last 'only' twenty and forty thousand years, are less stable and often more difficult to distinguish. 'The beauty of the 405,000-year cycle is that it is separate from the rest', says researcher Dennis Kent. "He does not change. The other cycles move over these." {youtube}                                            We Discovered That Jupiter and Venus Influence Earth's Climate                                                 Climate Change On Earth Caused By Jupiter And Venus   The Milankovitch cycles are a sort of yardstick for geologists for time: a worldwide system of alternations that always take about the same length of time. Regular changes in climate can be found in sedimentary deposits in various places. This allows you to link something that happened a long time ago to another event that took place somewhere else at the same time. Recommended:  Solar Farms In Space: Next Step In Renewable Energy For example, the discovery of this cycle can help us better understand the rise of the dinosaurs - more than two hundred million years ago, the researchers write. With the help of the cycle, you can place the evolution of these powerful beasts and the changes that took place in their environment very precisely in the right time and compare them all over the world. Cover photo by: JAXA/Akihiro Ikeshita. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency had decided the schedule for the Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI” to be injected into the Venus orbit in the winter in 2015. Click here for the original post Before you go! Recommended:  Global Warming By CO2 Or Cooling By A Grand Solar Minimum Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about your opinion about climate change? 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Can nature itself be our leading example in solving climate issues? Yes: this artificial leaf might be one of the solutions for global warming. With new and low-cost technology where CO2 is converted into liquid fuel by sunlight, scientists of the University of Waterloo may be able to solve the enormous problem of rising greenhouse levels. A Breakthrough In Converting CO2 Into Liquid Scientists from the University of Waterloo claim that their artificial leaf can be a breakthrough in converting CO2 into liquid. The new technology can turn carbon dioxide into fuel, with Mother Earth as an inspiration. The artificial leaf mimics photosynthesis in nature, hence the invention’s name, ‘leaf’. With the help of a cheap red powder called cuprous oxide, CO2 can be converted into methanol and oxygen – and these substances are again converted into fuel. This cuprous oxide is found in abundance in nature. What is cuprous oxide? Curpous oxide, or red copper oxide or Cu2O, is a red coloured crystal of powder, and oxide of copper - and found in nature as cuprite. Fuel Efficiency Larger Than Natural Photosynthesis Oil buble abstract {youtube}                             Artificial Leaves Designed By Scientists Absorb More CO2 Than Natural Leaves                                                How An Artificial Leaf Sucks CO2 And Makes Fuel. Amazing! The inexpensive technology can hopefully help in the fight against rising greenhouse gas levels. The research team of the University of Waterloo's motivation to develop this artificial leaf is to ‘reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas, and hopefully reduce global warming and to provide sustainable energy.’  It seems to be working: lead researcher Yimin Wu said: "This technology has achieved the solar to fuel efficiency about 10 per cent. This is already larger than the natural photosynthesis (about one per cent)." Recommended: Global Cooling Will Kills Us All. No, Wait Global Warming Will Kill Us! What´s Next For The Artificial Leaf? How does photosynthesis work simple? Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other things make food. It is an endothermic (takes in heat) chemical process that uses sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into sugars that the cell can use as energy. As well as plants, many kinds of algae, protists and bacteria use it to get food. It could take a while for the artificial leaf to be commercialised. Further research is needed to increase the amount of ethanol during the process before the technology is offered to industrial companies. In a partnership with industry companies, more efficient artificial leaves can be developed – but this can take up to a few years. Professor Wu says that oil, steel, and automotive companies will take advantage of the technology to help reduce their carbon emissions. On that note, he tells Independent: “I’m extremely excited about the potential of this discovery to change the game. Climate change is an urgent problem, and we can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also creating an alternative fuel.” Lead researcher Yimin Wu Before you go! Recommended:  Breaking: Did You Know, All You Read About CO2 Rise Is Half The Truth Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about CO2 Absorbing Techniques? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'

About 30 years ago, the European legislations changed in favour of hemp. People said that this green development has potential. This green crop was developed to thousands of products for several sectors, like automotive, textile, industrial design, medical, food, cosmetic, paper, animal bedding and care, paint, biomass and construction. Hemp: High-Performance Stuff For Buildings, Fashion, Health Hemp farming and processing around the world is only sustainable when taking into account the whole resource as well as local circumstances. Sadly, this is not always the case due to economic interests. Hemp: High-Performance Stuff For Buildings, Fashion, Health is a follow up to  Hemps Multifunctional Versatile Applications. Does It Work?  where we wrote that hemp could be one of the most ecologically durable and promising alternatives to concrete and several other applications. Hemp Construction: Energy, Water, Resources Do you know that construction consumes about 40 per cent of the world's global energy, 25 per cent of the worldwide water and 40 per cent of the global resources (UN Environment Program, 2016)? We can change this. Hempcrete could be very interesting for climate change. We could reduce operational energy, e.g. air conditioning, due to the insulating properties of hemp. Is hemp a good building material? The hurds (also known as shives) are strong enough that they can be used in building. Hemp has other properties that make it a good building material. A hemp crop can be ready to harvest in 4-6 months, and its roots grow densely enough that weeds aren't a problem. Hemp Material For Construction In France In the article mentioned above, you can read that France already uses hemp as a construction material. Early 1990s France started to develop in using hemp as an insulating construction material. Other European countries followed, and for 15 years, hemp has the attention of the world. Two main components of hemp are used as materials: fibre and the more woody core. Hemp is excellent in use: it is free of nutrients for parasites, it does not require protection, like wood or some other plants. And last: it is hardly flammable (classification B1 or B2). Hemp-based building materials range from loose wool or thermally welded insulation boards and felt for acoustic attenuation or levelling to chipboard for drywalls and ceilings (up to 100% hemp), pellets for boards (pressed dust, hemp fibre decortication), hemp fibre-reinforced polymers for façade boards and curtain walls and hemp oil-based varnishes. Hemp insulation panels replace non-renewable and energy-consuming insulation materials such as glass and stone wool, which have the same or very similar thermal conductivity coefficients. Hemp As Insulation Material Is hemp a good insulator? Hemp makes an excellent insulator. This is due to its low conductivity levels and its high thermal mass Hemp concrete is the most all-around insulation material. If you mix it, e.g. with lime, hemp hurts (or you can use other natural binders) and water, this material only uses up to one cubic meter hemp hurds per constructed square metre. Its suitability for interior applications and its diffusion of water vapour make it very interesting, not only for bioclimatic architecture but also for the retrofitting of vernacular architecture. Besides, a 30 cm thick hemp concrete wall without mesh allows for storage of 36.08 kg CO2 per m2. Structural vault of hemp concrete The principal fields of application are concrete for manually compacted, cast walls, sprayed insulation coatings, interior and exterior plasters, prefabricated blocks and panels for non-load-bearing or load-bearing applications, floor plates, sheets and roof insulation, including structural use such as vaulting and domed roofs. Hemp: High-Performance Stuff For Buildings {youtube}                                       Building with Hemp – An Incredible Natural Insulation & Sustainable Material                                                    Hemp: High-Performance Stuff For Buildings, Fashion, Health Could you imagine that concrete could be replaced by anything else? The industry is calling for other ecological and economical alternatives. Cement manufacturers are responsible for approximately 7% of annual global CO2-emissions. Besides, the high demand for cement has led to a considerable shortage of sand. This could be catastrophic for the economy and the environment. Luckily, it has proven that hemp could be one of the most promising and sustainable alternatives for conventional concrete. Builders are already implementing concrete in their construction/architecture. Hemp As Modern Building Material Is Hempcrete waterproof? Hempcrete, unlike traditional concrete, does not produce large cracks under movement. Waterproof, fireproof and 100 per cent recyclable, hempcrete can also be used as a fertiliser once demolished. Hemp fibres are also used as a modern building material, an application that is successfully used and exploited in France. Hemp fibres can be mixed with water and limestone to form a solid, lightweight, natural cement. It has not only excellent insulating qualities but also offers more flexibility than conventional concrete, making it very useful as a construction material in areas where earthquakes happen a lot. Dutch Dun Agro Builders Use Hempcrete The Dutch company, Dun Agro, has presented a hemp home. The hempcrete of Dun Agro is made of fibres, water and lime. It has to dry for three months and then you can assemble it to create an entire home. People are looking for alternatives because there is not sufficient sand to sustain the demand for conventional concrete. You may not know it, but sand is the second most widely used natural resource in the world and is only outdone by water. This high demand often creates an incentive for criminal cartels to fight over resource-rich areas of developing countries, disrupting the local ecosystem and intimidating citizens who are trying to get in their way. Is hemp stronger than steel? With these two measurements of strength, we are easily able to understand why hemp is stronger than steel. Hemp can hold almost twice the weight as steel before it cracks and breaks. ... Hemp can bend and mend almost six times better than steel. If the construction sector were to adopt a renewable alternative such as hemp entirely, it could drastically improve some of these social, ecological and economic problems. Dun Agro is not the only Dutch company that used hemp to build a home. Another Dutch architectural firm Werkstatt created the first Dutch house constructed entirely from hempcrete. Werkstatt Architects Build House From Hempcrete The hempcrete home is situated in Oudega, Friesland. The material of the house offers a healthy interior with its breathing capacities. The most important construction of the house is made of oak. Hempcrete is poured into the timber frame construction; this provides a homogenous, insulating wall. The home is designed to be self-sufficient, using compost toilets and generating its own energy. The shape of the house is designed to fit in the landscape but is updated with modern qualities. Werkstatt wanted to use as many natural construction materials as possible. This is not only comfortable but also breathable and has regulatory characteristics. This fits the simple and elegant aesthetics of Werkstatt. Henry Ford Build A Car From Hemp Hemp goes way back. In 1941 Henry ford built a car from 'hemp plastic'. The cool thing was that he also ran on hemp fuel, pressed from seeds. Returning from the past: automotive manufacturers are turning to hemp as a resource to provide cars from lightweight, shock absorbent and ecologically material. Finally, some of the top automotive manufacturers are following Ford in his footsteps. Hemps And Fashion Is hemp a good fabric? Hemp fiber is one of the strongest and most durable of all natural textile fibers. Due to the porous nature of the fiber, hemp is more water absorbent, and will dye and retain its color better than any fabric including cotton. This porous nature allows hemp to 'breathe', so that it is cool in warm weather. As mentioned before, hemp has strong natural fibres, which can be used for canvass and sails. But sustainable work clothes (e.g. jeans) are also made from fibres. When the hemp crops are grown close together, the fibre is shorter and more delicate, which can be used for delicate textile. Nowadays, fashion designers are experimenting with hemp in bags, clothing, shirts, suits, and whatsoever. Hemp Oil Uses Hemp contains herb and can be used for skin and hair products. Next to hair or skin products, hemp is utilized in health issues, like painkiller or medicine. You can also use hemp after a shower or bath; massaging your body with hemp, increases the blood circulation. It prevents skin conditions, like eczema, psoriasis, acne and dry skin. Hemp oil could replace olive oil, but it is not suitable to cook at high temperature. It can give a slightly nutty and crispy taste to food. You already read that hemp oil is an alternative for biodiesel. It is safe because it is not toxic and does not harm the environment. Next to the applications mentioned above, hemp is a perfect substitution for paint. It has very low emissions and is not harmful to the environment. Before you go! Recommended:  Greenest Buildings In The World: Sustainable Highlights Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. 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Hemp is one of the most positive and environmentally durable alternatives to concrete and other purposes.  It is hard to believe that concrete could be replaceable. We use concrete for substantial construction projects, but we have to look for alternatives because of economic and eco-friendly reasons. Hemp's Historical Use Of all the plants there exist, hemp is one of the most useful plants. We use hemp since 5000-7000 BC. Rests are found at Neolithic cemeteries in central Europa, and they indicate that they were then used in funeral rites and shamanic ceremonies. Cannabis has many purposes: used for fibre, food, medical and psychoactive destinations. It is one of the most versatile crops. Cannabis responds adaptive to different climates, they do not need a lot of fertiliser, and they expand rapidly, which is confirmed by several historical declarations. In WWII, hemp was a widely grown crop. Hemp provided the world with a great and sustainable source of fibre. Hemp has a growing cycle of only 120 days, so it can be harvested several times a year, depending on local weather conditions. The biomass is significant, which means that it absorbs large amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2. Hemp does not need a lot, and it is resistant to bugs. They even can improve the soil structure over time. What is hemp used for? Hemp is used to make a variety of commercial and industrial products, including rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, insulation, and biofuel. Russians sorting raw hemp fibers in the Kursk region in the 1960s. Hemp has been used as building material for millennia in Europe and elsewhere, but it’s only just starting to get wider recognition as a green construction option For centuries, hemp was one of the essential industrial corps. Hemp provided fibres for rope and canvas. There are a lot of rules and regulation about hemp in the US, like the prohibition of hemp cultivation. But unlike today's laws, less than a century ago, they did not only encourage the cultivation of hemp, it was mandatory for farmers. The government created a slogan 'Hemp for Victory', to promote hemp cultivation. Hemps Multifunctional Versatile Applications. It Could Free Us From Oil What is the difference between hemp and CBD? CBD oil uses the whole plant, while hemp oil comes from its seeds, but more recently, because of the growing CBD market, hemp oil derived from the seed of the plant is now more commonly referred to as hemp seed oil. CBD oil is made from a variety of parts of the mature hemp plant including its stalks and flowers You have different kinds of hemp. Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) and marijuana (cannabis Sativa var. indica) come from a similar species, but they are very different. There is a lot of confusion about the plant, and deliberate misinformation has led to socioeconomics and environmental problems. Hemp is not illegal because of human health, but it's too environmentally friendly, nutritionally and medicinally beneficial. Other powerful companies cannot compete with that. Recommended:  Carbon-Negative Fuel Set: Burning The World To A Better Place JD Farms in Eaton, N.Y., which grows hemp for industrial uses. Unlike the strain that produces marijuana, the cannabis plant for industrial hemp must be cultivated outdoors Hemp Prevents Deforestation For ages we are cutting trees to make paper, but what if there is another solution? Hemp!  It is a far more sensible and sustainable solution. Cannabis produces four times more fibres per acre and can be harvested multiple times a year. Did you know the first dollar bills were printed on hemp paper? Perhaps your old family bible is made of hemp paper. Recommended:  Deforestation: No! Celebrate National Tree Day With WhatsOrb Hemp: Some Facts Like mentioned above, hemp can produce a lot of acre in a year, like 10 tons of acre in four months. It is Earth's number-one biomass resource. Biomass can be transformed into methane, methanol or gasoline at a similar cost as petroleum, and hemp is much better for the environment. There are two options to convert hemp into fuel: pyrolyse (charcoal) or a biochemical compost. Another advantage of hemp is that the hemp fuel is very clean, unlike petroleum, which causes acid rain due to sulphur pollution. Does 1 acre of hemp produce more oxygen than trees? Hemp converts CO2 to oxygen better than trees. Hemp produces more oil than any other crop, which can be used for food, fuel, lubricants, soaps, etc. Hemp can be grown more than once per year. Hemp Buildings: Environmentally Sustainable Alternative {youtube}                                                Can You Build a House With Hemp? | National Geographic                                               Hemps Multifunctional Versatile Applications. Does It Work? Did you know that cement manufacturers are responsible for approximately 7% of annual global CO2-emissions? Besides, the high demand for cement has led to a considerable shortage of sand. This could be catastrophic for the economy and the environment. Also, in this category, hemp could play an essential role. It could be the sustainable alternative we all were looking for. Builders are already implementing hemp in their architecture. It France they already used hemp in their buildings successfully. Hemp fibres can be mixed with water and limestone to create a light-weight, but strong natural cement. It has excellent insulating qualities but is also more flexible than concrete. This could be very useful in areas where earthquakes happen a lot. Builders Use Hempcrete Is Hempcrete real? Hempcrete or Hemplime is bio-composite material, a mixture of hemp hurds (shives) and lime (possibly including natural hydraulic lime, sand, or pozzolans) which is used as a material for construction and insulation. Thirty years ago, the French created 'modern' hempcrete. They used it in their construction materials, but nowadays, builders around the world take this material seriously. Next to the advantages mentioned above, hempcrete is not only better for the environment; it is more resistant to fire as well; it regulates temperature and is more insulating. Hempcrete! What Is It? What is hempcrete exactly? It consists of the internal woody part of the hemp plant, mixed with a lime binder. The hemp core can connect well with the lime because of the high silica content. This is a unique quality for all-natural fibres. That is why they are so light-weight. Hempcrete is not used as a structural element, but only as of the insulating filling between frames. All loads are carried by internal framing. The hempcrete is mixed in mortal mixers for 1-2 minutes and then placed, by hand, in wall cavities. On the outside, the material is finished with a hard render coating from 20mm thick. Above that, there will be a final coloured topcoat. You will not see anything different on the outside, but the inside could be all-natural. Do you want to read more? You can read more about this and the applications of hempcrete in ongoing construction projects in our following story. Before you go! Recommended:  Sustainable Food, Medicine, Building Material, Fuel: Hemp Did you find this an interesting article or do you have a question or remark? Leave a comment below. We try to respond the same day. Like to write your own article about Hemp? Click on  'Register'  or push the button 'Write An Article' on the  'HomePage'