LCA and cumulative energy demand of hemp buildings products
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/18162025Keywords:
hemp, sustainable architecture, embodied energy, cumulative energy demand, life cycle assessmentAbstract
The building sector is one of the most environmentally impactful; to reduce its energy consumption, various efforts have been undertaken, including the use of construction materials with low embodied energy, such as hemp. To validate hemp’s suitability as a raw material for the construction of ‘green buildings’, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of hemp-lime blocks was carried out through the application of the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) methodology to assess the block’s impact on energy resources. The assessment revealed a low environmental impact, with limited influence on different energy sources and a slightly higher weight on non-renewable ones. The block, therefore, proves suitable for energy-efficiency improvements and for achieving SDGs 6 and 7 by reducing the building sector’s energy consumption and enabling more equitable access to energy and water.
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Received: 13/09/2025; Revised: 22/10/2025; Accepted: 24/10/2025
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