Hemp Building Materials Included in National Mall’s Innovative Housing Showcase

Hemp building materials, including hempcrete, will be on display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as part of the annual Innovative Housing Showcase. The showcase takes place June 9-11. 

The hemp building materials – including hempcrete, hemp blocks, hemp wood flooring, hemp wool batt insulation, hemp rebar, geopolymer hemp stucco, and quickcrete – will be exhibited by the US Hemp Building Association (USHBA). 

In a press release, Ray Kaderli, USHBA president, noted that in Europe, hemp has been used in building materials for 30 years.   

“Hemp building materials displayed on the National Mall will turbocharge education and answer questions on this remarkable building solution. This showcase will move the industry forward.” — Kaderli in a statement 

The USHBA has also announced a partnership Mandi Kerr of Utah-based Global Hemp Association to make key relationships with congressional staffers during the showcase. Kaderli said the partnership “provides advocacy for the total supply chain of industrial hemp from the seed to the walls of a building.” 

“Global Hemp Association has provided advocacy and leadership for the genetics and farming of industrial hemp to build our agricultural supplies,” he said. “US Hemp Building Association provides advocacy for the raw materials made into building materials. The whole supply chain is represented.” 

Hemp building materials will be showcased as part of the Department of Energy’s emphasis on plant-based decarbonizing building materials.