May 12 2008
American Lime Technology is pleased to announce its latest project using the highly sustainable Tradical® Hemcrete® building system. This "green" project entails an energy efficient upgrade to a community center on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home to the Lakota tribe, in the southwest corner of South Dakota. The upgraded community center will serve residents of the reservation, which is the eighth largest in the United States.
Although new to the American market, Tradical® Hemcrete® has been used successfully in the United Kingdom and Europe for over ten years. This proprietary system, which relies on sustainably produced hemp shiv and lime binder, is being used to construct seamless walls and to insulate floors and roofs. The resulting buildings are thermally efficient, attractive, pest-resistant, fire-resistant, and durable, and these nontoxic, all-natural materials contain no harmful chemical. Unlike typical new construction materials, hemp and lime are breathable, which discourages harmful mold growth while providing better air quality for the building's occupants.
Construction on the two buildings is underway. The project is being organized by Jeremy Briggs, co-founder of the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Council and organizer of the Lakota Hemp Project.