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The Wilden Group’s director of construction Josh Smith called it “a tomorrow home today” when unveiling Kelowna’s first fully hemp-insulated home at 278 Summer Wood Drive.
“Someone approached the Wilden Group here and asked if we’d be interested in using hemp insulation for a project,” Smith said, adding that he had already been tasked by CEO Karin Eger-Blenk to find insulation with a smaller carbon footprint.
“All of us who are building in Wilden are aiming for the net zero goal,” said Eger-Blenk. “We want to get better and better at building net-zero homes energy efficiently and cost-efficiently.”
Not only does hemp insulation not require a lot of energy to create, Smith explained, but it also absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide than it puts out.
Hemp insulation is free from synthetic toxins making it safer for handling and increasing indoor air quality. It also naturally regulates humidity preventing mould growth, offers an element of soundproofing, and maintains indoor temperatures better than other types of insulation reducing the demand for energy.
Other measures taken to build the net-zero ready home included under slab insulation, triple pane windows, energy-efficient appliances, and solar panels.
“It is more expensive, there’s no question. We can’t build them any cheaper, but you do, I think, get a lot of benefits from building this style of home. This home will be here for a long time,” said Smith.
The hemp insulation costs about $10,000 more than what the group would normally invest in such a home.
“Because it is so efficient and such a great and healthy material too, if this picks up supplies will enhance and costs will hopefully come down,” Eger-Blenk said the Wilden Group wanted to set an example by building with solely plant-based insulation.
The Wilden Group plans to continue using hemp insulation in future construction projects.
The net zero-ready home is now on the market for $1,749,000.
In Wilden’s Echo Ridge neighbourhood, the 3,247 square-foot home includes the main house with five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths with a one-bedroom, one-bath, legal suite attached. The house has a two-vehicle garage, a covered deck in the front and a patio around the back.
View the listing or book a tour of the house at Wilden.ca.
”}]] The home is on the market for $1.7 M Read More
