Is hemp insulation really ecological?

Hello everyone,

For the sake of my future husband, I have been spending some time in Vienna now, and since he hasn’t been too harsh in his tone so far, topics like family and building a house are slowly coming up. At the moment, we are exploring prefabricated house providers and plots of land.

My partner has developed a clear preference for alternative, seemingly "ecological" building materials, especially for insulation. He wants the best possible energy balances, maybe even in the form of these low-energy or passive houses (is that even possible with prefabricated construction?).

He also makes clear statements like "Hemp! Wood fibers! Surely much better indoor climate!", but I am skeptical. Are such insulation materials really that much better? Do they actually come without additives? Something like wood fiber must surely be extremely flammable, right?

Depending on which sites you come across when googling, you find opposing opinions and experiences. Some say these insulation materials are adulterated and nonsense, others say anyone who covers themselves in Styrofoam is to blame themselves.

Specifically, for example, it is currently about providers like Zenker and their insulations ([zenker-hausbau.at/Dämmung-mit-hanf/]), is that any good? Stay away?

Thank you very much for reading and for the tips!

Take a look here

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The optimal insulation material does not exist. Where does the material come from? Under what conditions?

There are guidelines for fire protection and everyone must comply with them. And if it is achieved through additives.

Disposal is often still a problem, whether eco-friendly or polystyrene. For the latter, there are good solution approaches; research is certainly ongoing for the rest as well. What is possible will be shown by the future.

Passive house works whether wood, timber frame, or stone on stone. However, in 2015 we had not found stone on stone and stuck with wood. Take a look at Wir Leben Haus. Such systems also exist in Austria. Parts of our walls are from Austria.

Wishes, optimal building partner, budget are the squaring of the circle. See what you can implement.

Insulation. In my opinion, the classic insulation from Knaus, Isover or Rockwool is a mat made of glass or stone wool. These materials are both completely harmless and emit nothing. We are neither openly exposed to them nor do we eat that stuff.
Room climate is such a word. What is that? So a room has a temperature and a humidity level. If it is around 21 and 50% and the air is fresh, you feel comfortable. You can achieve that entirely without insulating materials, a thick Ytong wall, plaster on both sides, a forced ventilator in the window, done and nothing esoteric. Karsten

And in terms of energy balance, every house construction is a disaster. Just saying...

But there is nothing against hemp. I personally doubt its “advantages”, but it works.

A real influence on the indoor climate is the air exchange rate (ventilation or controlled residential ventilation) and the humidity (enthalpy exchanger in controlled residential ventilation). Natural substances that help are primarily houseplants and interior plaster (e.g. clay). Insulation I consider secondary to tertiary.

Many thanks, guys, honestly.

That Passive House can really work with this variant is a relief.

Thanks also for the explanation of the air exchange rate. I will research in that direction and won’t let myself be distracted by all the marketing!

Thanks also for the link!

Ventilation Passive House or heating system, take a look Stiebel Eltron LWZ 604 Air or Tecalor TCO 2.5

Is your room layout and budget fixed (the latter should be fairly generous)? Then look at what you definitely want, Passive House or clay plaster. Decide from the beginning what is important to you and how. Most people have to make cuts after their wish list. The gap between wish and budget is too large. Find a home builder who suits you. The chemistry has to be right. Passive House important – then first be open-minded about whether wood, timber frame, or stone-on-stone. Wood important then maybe slight compromises and not Passive House, but only energy efficient.