Hemp Voices: Cameron McIntosh, Americhanvre Cast Hemp
Cameron McIntosh, owner/founder Americhanvre Cast Hemp, consultant, builder, educator
Hemp realizes the potential for biogenic, plant-based and sustainable building materials to offset our global carbon emissions in impactful and lasting ways.
What was a win for your company in the past year?
This past year was the year of the Americhanvre-trained Ereasy system Owner/Operator! The "Americanized" Ereasy systems were delivered beginning in January, and by April the first owner/operator-led Ereasy projects began to occur around the country. This was a major accomplishment for Americhanvre in that we executed on our vision to expand the use of the Ereasy system beyond our own operation. Notable Ereasy owner-operator led projects include Fiberfort and Jellybeanz Tire House in Michigan, the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the "Raft", Kevin Sipe and the first Ereasy insulated home in Washington state, Big Sky Hemp with a retrofit against masonry in Montana, and finally the Hillside Center for Sustainable Living's 12-unit "South Rise" building - the first commercial-residential hempcrete construction in North America.
What is something about hemp building/construction/processing you didn’t know a year ago?
Every day we learn more and more about the steps and processes that we must undergo as a company bringing a hempcrete technology solution to market. We have learned to navigate the expectations and requirements for homeowner builders, general contractors, developers and public/private corporations and entities.
What challenges does the hemp building industry face that it must overcome in the next five years?
As the demand for carbon-friendly and sustainable building solutions grows, the hemp building industry needs to learn quickly what kinds of testing and what research objectives need to be performed and addressed to stay relevant. There is global pressure now on the governments of the free world to demonstrate that they are taking meaningful measures to meet their climate action goals. The challenge for us all is making sure that hemp rises to the top as a legitimate, commercially viable construction material. Game on!
Phone: (833) 443-6727
Contact: melissa@americhanvre.com