Hempcrete Buildings: Environmental Sustainability and Durability of Two Case-Studies in North and South Italy

In the framework of Circular Economy policies aimed at reducing the consumption of raw materials, shives, as an agricultural by-product of hemp cultivation, have gained a renovated life in the construction sector. Its excellent thermal insulating properties permitted the development of new building materials to be used in various executive technologies. When shives are mixed with a mineral binder such as lime or cement, the mixture is usually referred to as hempcrete. In Italy, the use of hempcrete and the development of new production chains and implementation techniques dates back only to about the last decade, while other European countries have more long-lasting experiences (90s). In order to assess the potential benefits of hempcrete in the construction sector, its environmental performances were evaluated using the LCA methodology, by comparing four non-loadbearing representative walls, one made with hempcrete blocks and the others with more “traditional” materials. This research constitutes a solid basis for the development of future guidelines and/or regulations at national and international level in order to guarantee the maximum diffusion of this type of product. Then, a study has been carried out regarding the functionality of hempcrete blocks in masonry, layered with finishing plaster made of fine hemp shives, to evaluate the in-situ hygrothermal building performance. In particular, measurement methods were developed and analysis were carried out on two houses, one in northern Italy and one in southern Italy, and precisely in Sicily, focusing the study on the performances of the walls subjected to warm Mediterranean climates. Indeed, the literature on masonry behavior in hot Mediterranean climates is much scarcer than in cold climates.