Canberra's first hemp house wins big at GreenSmart Awards

ACT building company Prostyle Building Group has won the title of 2018 HIA Australian GreenSmart Home – the highest accolade presented at the 2018 Housing Industry Association Lawn Solutions Australian GreenSmart Awards.

HIA awards recognise the best in environmentally-responsible housing. Award winners and finalists make a positive difference to the environment by building sustainable, energy efficient and comfortable homes.

The winning 2018 HIA Australian GreenSmart Home, located in O’Conner, is one of just 24 hemp houses in Australia and features solar passive design, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting and a 22,000-litre underground water tank to service the laundry, toilets and garden.

The most unique feature is that the home is made of carbon-friendly “hempcrete”, which comprises shredded hemp mixed with a lime binder, and is ideal for the Canberra climate.

The judges said what set the home apart from other nominees was its well-considered approach of starting from a base of good passive design and then working through to technologies and products.

“The home is at the cutting edge of what is currently the most important global sustainable development goal – zero carbon emissions,” the judges commented.

The home’s innovative hemp walls with lime render inside and out are the first of their kind in the ACT. Specialist training was undertaken, which the judges assessed as showing real commitment to educating tradespeople.

The home also won the award for HIA Australian GreenSmart Custom Built Home.

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Among the winners from all around Australia, 360 Building Solutions and Light House Architecture and Science, ACT & Southern NSW, were also recognised for their contribution to sustainable building practices, winning HIA Australian GreenSmart Sustainable Home.

The home is clever and cost-effective, and boasts an 8.2 star energy rating with technologies that include roof space-to-subfloor air transfer and smart phase change materials.

In congratulating the winners, HIA managing director Graham Wolfe said HIA Australian GreenSmart Awards represented the latest in environmental design and building practices.

“HIA Australian GreenSmart Award winners and finalists are leading the way in sustainable building practices, including site management and energy saving techniques, to build comfortable homes for their clients,” Mr Wolfe said.

“The awards recognise HIA members building and designing greener and more liveable homes.”