420 with CNW — Feds Finance Research into Use of Hemp as Ecofriendly Insulation

August 26, 2021 16:25:03

The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) is funding a project to develop hemp fiber insulation, which in comparison to traditional preparations, is said to be better for both public health as well as the environment. In addition to awarding almost $200,000 to facilitate research, the department granted Hempitecture’s COO Tommy Gibbons a yearly stipend of $90,000.

The DOE is especially interested in the firm’s HempWool product, which is said to be a high-performing and extremely sustainable insulation material. The hemp-based product, which has a low carbon footprint and strong thermal resistance, is a nontoxic alternative to conventional insulation.

In an interview, Gibbons stated that the Department of Energy was interested in the insulation’s potential for decarbonization as well as that of other building materials that have been manufactured using hemp fibers. The company is planning to carry out research and test proprietary blends of its insulation material in an attempt to enhance its fire resistance and insulation value. This is in addition to improving onshore manufacturing of insulation products that use industrial hemp waste obtained from farmers in America.

A description of the project notes that the emphasis on low-carbon, healthy building materials has prompted a search for solutions from the government as well as consumers to reduce the huge footprint of the built environment and reconstruct better infrastructure. The department’s Innovation Crossroads program is also working to fulfill a goal set by the Biden administration that would reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy.

With the grant awarded to Hempitecture, the DOE appears to be recognizing what experts and stakeholders have previously stated: hemp is an environmentally friendly and sound investment.

In other news, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) had announced earlier this year that it would be awarding a grant of $100,000 to a company headquartered in Washington state. The agency stated that the grant would help support the development of more sustainable bricks manufactured using industrial hemp.

Among the companies to receive the grant under the agency’s innovation research program was Earth Merchant, which produces OlogyBricks. OlogyBricks are considered to be an alternative to construction bricks manufactured from concrete and other materials as they are carbon negative, lightweight and durable, in addition to being hemp based. In a notice, the EPA stated that the hemp-based product would improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency in single-family homes, among other architectural applications.

Nearly three years ago, the agency also awarded a $12,000 grant to a research team from the University of California to facilitate research on how to use hemp as a renewable fiber in construction. The success of this hemp insulation research would unearth an economically viable use for the hemp waste left after companies such as Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) have extracted CBD from hemp biomass.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT

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