Source: HempLifestyleMagazine.com
Breaking ground: The First Hemp House in New Zealand
Q & A with Greg Flavell
Q & A with Greg Flavell
You are about to build the first hemp house in New Zealand. How did
this come about?
this come about?
I went and gave a presentation to the Green Party about hemp
building and one of the audience members, Lance Palmer, was
interested in the technique. It turned out that Lance is the
Managing Director of a company called Fowler Homes based in Taranaki,
New Zealand and had been considering building his own home from
rammed earth. Once he saw samples of the hempcrete and saw how easy
it was to apply stucco cladding to the sample, he decided he wanted to
build his 195 m2 house using hemp. Rockcote Resene are going to
provide the lime based exterior wall cladding for the house.
We have another house lined up in Canterbury, on the South Island
of NZ, and Fowler Homes are bidding on two more.
building and one of the audience members, Lance Palmer, was
interested in the technique. It turned out that Lance is the
Managing Director of a company called Fowler Homes based in Taranaki,
New Zealand and had been considering building his own home from
rammed earth. Once he saw samples of the hempcrete and saw how easy
it was to apply stucco cladding to the sample, he decided he wanted to
build his 195 m2 house using hemp. Rockcote Resene are going to
provide the lime based exterior wall cladding for the house.
We have another house lined up in Canterbury, on the South Island
of NZ, and Fowler Homes are bidding on two more.
What has the reception been from the New Zealand public?
New Zealanders seem to be more embracing and accepting than the US
public. I think New Zealand seems to be a test-bed for many things,
probably because of country's physical isolation from other countries.
Since the Christchurch earthquakes, the building codes are stricter,
but this is not much different to building codes in California.
public. I think New Zealand seems to be a test-bed for many things,
probably because of country's physical isolation from other countries.
Since the Christchurch earthquakes, the building codes are stricter,
but this is not much different to building codes in California.
Are the hemp and binder sourced in New Zealand?
The hemp will be supplied from a farm in New Zealand or Australia,
depending on the amount of hemp available locally. There are three
cultivars grow well in here; "Kompolti", "USO 31" and "Ferimon" hemp.
In Europe only 5% of the hemp hurd is used for building, whereas in
New Zealand we intend to use about 10-15%. Planting is due to
start in late October with harvesting due late March - April.
We are working with Adrian Clarke who will bring his decorticator
to New Zealand by the end of the month and are hoping to process
168 bales of hemp. While we are working on hemp building, we
also supply markets for animal bedding, plastics and paper.
Loading...In the past we imported the binder material into the
US from Europe. This time we will use a proprietary binder
made using local materials.
depending on the amount of hemp available locally. There are three
cultivars grow well in here; "Kompolti", "USO 31" and "Ferimon" hemp.
In Europe only 5% of the hemp hurd is used for building, whereas in
New Zealand we intend to use about 10-15%. Planting is due to
start in late October with harvesting due late March - April.
We are working with Adrian Clarke who will bring his decorticator
to New Zealand by the end of the month and are hoping to process
168 bales of hemp. While we are working on hemp building, we
also supply markets for animal bedding, plastics and paper.
Loading...In the past we imported the binder material into the
US from Europe. This time we will use a proprietary binder
made using local materials.
Tell us about The Hemp Club
We are starting The Hemp Club (THC) as a way to help hemp advocates
have some ownership in a project. We search for residential
property and land at $10,000 - 20,000 below Rateable Valuation
(RV) to renovate, and then resell at a profit based on the
improvements we have listed below. It is much easier to renovate
than build, for example we can turn around house in 3 months
compared to a new build which takes 6 months. Plus there is
not as much planning permission required. We are mostly looking
for deceased estates that are coming onto the market, as
relatives often want to take the money quickly and move on.
have some ownership in a project. We search for residential
property and land at $10,000 - 20,000 below Rateable Valuation
(RV) to renovate, and then resell at a profit based on the
improvements we have listed below. It is much easier to renovate
than build, for example we can turn around house in 3 months
compared to a new build which takes 6 months. Plus there is
not as much planning permission required. We are mostly looking
for deceased estates that are coming onto the market, as
relatives often want to take the money quickly and move on.
Case Study
This home is now under contract for NZ$290,000 ($25k below RV) with
a 1317 m2 section in a good area of New Plymouth. THC would do
the following:
a 1317 m2 section in a good area of New Plymouth. THC would do
the following:
- Renovate and insulate with hemp to increase energy efficiency
- Survey to sub-divide section to create 2nd building lot
- Increase windows insulation to <0.35 U-Value
- Open the floor plan to provide more space and light
- Add a full or half bathroom
- Upgrade electrical, plumbing to current building codes
- Replace hot water tank with tankless system, capturing space
- Upgrade all interior/exterior lighting to reduce energy costs
- Upgrade kitchen for aesthetics and entertaining
- Add attractive decking for outdoor living space
- New (low VOC) paint throughout
- Update landscaping for increased curb appeal
- Contract new valuation (RV)
- List renovated hemp home for sale at new RV ~$419k
- Build a new 15-1700 sqft hemp home at $150/sqft ($1500/M2) $255k
- Landscape to create curb appeal
- Contract new valuation (RV)
List hemp home for sale at between $393k to 425k Estimated net
profit on total project = ~NZ$138k
profit on total project = ~NZ$138k
THC retains half the net profit after close of escrow and the other half is
paid out as dividends to THC members, proportionate to investment.
For more information and to get involved, visit
www.hemp-technologies.com
For more information and to get involved, visit
www.hemp-technologies.com
Your colleague David Madera sadly passed away recently. Would you
like to share some of your favourite memories?
like to share some of your favourite memories?
David and I were good friends for years and built together in
California and North Carolina. David passed on July 22, 2012
after a valiant battle with Melanoma, complicated with a heart
condition that had been diagnosed in 2004. Traveling to Peru
to practice with a shaman in the Amazon, to radical altering of his
diet he was diligent in working an integrated practice of both
Eastern and Western methodologies to release his body from the
grip of chronic illness. He rarely complained, always offered a positive
attitude, mischievous grin and a contagious laugh as he touched
countless lives on his time on the earth plane. He will be missed
but his carefree, carpe diem approach to living life will survive
in the hearts of all those who had the pleasure of spending time in
his light.
California and North Carolina. David passed on July 22, 2012
after a valiant battle with Melanoma, complicated with a heart
condition that had been diagnosed in 2004. Traveling to Peru
to practice with a shaman in the Amazon, to radical altering of his
diet he was diligent in working an integrated practice of both
Eastern and Western methodologies to release his body from the
grip of chronic illness. He rarely complained, always offered a positive
attitude, mischievous grin and a contagious laugh as he touched
countless lives on his time on the earth plane. He will be missed
but his carefree, carpe diem approach to living life will survive
in the hearts of all those who had the pleasure of spending time in
his light.
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