Asheville green-building project called Nauhaus to highlight Hemcrete, passive solar, other green components

Really cool story here about a unique Asheville project. Meantime, loyal reader Jennifer says that the developers are looking for photographers to help document the construction of the Nauhaus.

From Jennifer:

The builder, Clarke Snell, is taking pics, but he is not a
professional. It’s in W Avl at 67 Talmadge if any of y’all are
interested in learning more or dropping by. (I don’t think it’s more
than a hole in the ground at present but that will likely change
soon.)
 
I’m telling you this in part because this house may figure in future
TEDx events and I’d like for it to be professionally documented. But
mostly I am telling you because I think it is a cool community thing
and a wave of the future.
 
How exciting is homebuilding to photograph? You got me there. But if
you want to know more, send email and I will put you in touch with the
Nauhaus people.

Story here from WorldChanging.com:

As public support for sustainable residential architecture grows in the U.S., the number of green-building demo projects continues to proliferate. The challenge for both consumers and builders is to cut through the hype to find the tools and techniques that make sense both environmentally and economically.

Stepping into the breach is a new firm out of Asheville, NC, The Nauhaus Group, which unapologetically states, “It’s no secret that the Nauhaus Group is out to save the world.” Their demo project, The Nauhaus Project (NHP), broke ground on September 1st in an unusual fashion. Instead of the traditional shovel of dirt and opening ceremony, The Nauhaus Group decided to hold the official ceremony two months later on November 6th, the date at which they hope to install an innovative hemp wall system. According to Michael Figura, one of the organizers of the event:

“We thought it would be more appropriate because our building’s paradigm is constructive, not destructive. Considering the unique features of the home we decided to hold a public event at a time in the construction process when people could view and experience some of the more exciting highlights of the prototype.”

Included in the seventeen-point NHP “basic housing components” list are techniques both well-known and exotic including the hemp wall system which will be the first U.S. application of Tradical® Hemcrete® a bio-composite, thermal insulating material made from hemp, lime and water. Hemcrete® has been used in Europe and elsewhere in a wide array of applications from roof insulation to wall construction to flooring. It is waterproof, fireproof, insulates well, does not rot [when used above ground] and is completely recyclable.

The NHP components list also includes passive solar and super insulation technology that meets Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS) standards, heat exchange ventilation via an UltimateAir® RecoupAerator® ERV, locally sourced materials and on-site renewable energy production. The net result of the NHP approach will be a home that needs no furnace or air conditioning, is 90 percent more energy efficient than present code mandates and achieves LEED Platinum certification with 20 points to spare.

The U.S. Green Building Council estimates that buildings account for thirty-eight percent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the U.S. alone. It’s now more important than ever to develop projects like the Nauhaus that shift the design and construction paradigm from the reckless practice of the past to an environmentally sustainable and economically viable model for the future. I think the NHP is one of the better, more realistic demo projects I’ve seen. I’ll be keeping an eye on NHP as Nauhaus ushers it from concept to reality.

More about the Nauhaus:
http://tedxasheville.com/2009/08/nauhaus-and-hemcrete-to-demo-at-tedxasheville/
http://www.thenauhaus.com/