CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The growing housing problem in South Africa has led a Cape Town-based IT specialist to come up with an idea he says could help alleviate the problem. The idea is to build houses using cannabis indica.
Using cannabis to build is by no means a new idea. French archaeologists discovered bridges built with a process that mineralises hemp stalks into a long-lasting cement.
The process involves no synthetic chemicals and produces a material which works as a filler (called Isochanvre) in building construction.
According to Andre du Plessis’s three-year research, it is possible to build 82m2 houses for R15 000/unit.
Du Plessis told News24 on Friday morning that the houses will be built from a construction material much like “mud” from mixing cannabis’ woody core — or hurd — with lime, and river sand.
“When it (hurd, lime, and sand mixture) dries it is six times stronger in tensile strength than standard concrete, but six times lighter,” Du Plessis said.
According to him, houses built out of cannabis are comparatively cheaper, warmer, and more noise absorbent than concrete and brick.
He said that to build one house he needs three tons of hurd.
‘Hurdles’ to gain permission While Du Plessis said that his idea will help the government in addressing the shortage of houses, he needs permission from relevant institutions such as CSIR Hemp Research Feasibility Project, and that this had proved to be a “futile exercise”.
“To get this I have to work through the CSIR Hemp Research Feasibility Project ... they have been at it for three years, but they can’t even give me 2kg (hurd).” Du Plessis said that his project team performed extensive research into the viability of this project and that negotiations with the University of Cape Town and the Agricultural Research Council have “yielded considerable interest and favour”.
He indicated that his business plan “was met with high regard” by the National Business Institute Enterprise competition, as well as Department of Science Culture Arts and Entertainment’s Innovation Fund.
He said that despite distributing cans of this mixture in parliament and other relevant structures, he was frustrated by a variety of stumbling blocks such as the “disinterest” shown by senior people.
However, if provided support, Du Plessis said that he could source all the cannabis Hurd from China, but that that will work against building “rural economy, and thousands of jobs that could be created in agriculture and training.
He said that transport costs will also take a toll on the project.
- news24
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