so imagine a world where you can grow your own home now some of you might be
your own home now some of you might be
your own home now some of you might be familiar with the work that’s been done
familiar with the work that’s been done
familiar with the work that’s been done in the laboratory in the Netherlands
in the laboratory in the Netherlands
in the laboratory in the Netherlands where they’re growing what they call
where they’re growing what they call
where they’re growing what they call cultured meat or you might also be aware
cultured meat or you might also be aware
cultured meat or you might also be aware of the little bit of work that they’re
of the little bit of work that they’re
of the little bit of work that they’re doing there on insect burgers mmm
doing there on insect burgers mmm
doing there on insect burgers mmm but did you know that you can apply that
but did you know that you can apply that
but did you know that you can apply that principle to the homes and the buildings
principle to the homes and the buildings
principle to the homes and the buildings that we live in with this brick I bet
that we live in with this brick I bet
that we live in with this brick I bet you didn’t now what I want to say to you
you didn’t now what I want to say to you
you didn’t now what I want to say to you is we’re living in a time of increased
is we’re living in a time of increased
is we’re living in a time of increased challenges we have a population that is
challenges we have a population that is
challenges we have a population that is growing at an enormous rate believe it
growing at an enormous rate believe it
growing at an enormous rate believe it or not we have unprecedented wealth in
or not we have unprecedented wealth in
or not we have unprecedented wealth in the world on a global scale and the UN
the world on a global scale and the UN
the world on a global scale and the UN says that maybe in 150 years time we
says that maybe in 150 years time we
says that maybe in 150 years time we could have 125 times the population we
could have 125 times the population we
could have 125 times the population we currently have now just think about that
currently have now just think about that
currently have now just think about that we’re not very good at the moment US
we’re not very good at the moment US
we’re not very good at the moment US housing the people that we already have
housing the people that we already have
housing the people that we already have mean I was walking in this morning and
mean I was walking in this morning and
mean I was walking in this morning and we were coming up by the canal there was
we were coming up by the canal there was
we were coming up by the canal there was people there living in a tent I mean
people there living in a tent I mean
people there living in a tent I mean this is the 21st century and we’re a
this is the 21st century and we’re a
this is the 21st century and we’re a so-called advanced country here so
so-called advanced country here so
so-called advanced country here so trying to face this challenge is quite a
trying to face this challenge is quite a
trying to face this challenge is quite a big one
big one
big one and there are a couple of different
and there are a couple of different
and there are a couple of different schools of thought on this some people
schools of thought on this some people
schools of thought on this some people say that over time man will innovate he
say that over time man will innovate he
say that over time man will innovate he always innovate to solve whatever
always innovate to solve whatever
always innovate to solve whatever problem he faces and solved them with
problem he faces and solved them with
problem he faces and solved them with technology other people say no we’ve got
technology other people say no we’ve got
technology other people say no we’ve got to tighten our belts we’ve got to cut
to tighten our belts we’ve got to cut
to tighten our belts we’ve got to cut back I say that we can do both and we
back I say that we can do both and we
back I say that we can do both and we can do both with this brick now you may
can do both with this brick now you may
can do both with this brick now you may have remembered these incredible scenes
have remembered these incredible scenes
have remembered these incredible scenes from a couple of months ago in London
from a couple of months ago in London
from a couple of months ago in London when that Terra block went on fire and
when that Terra block went on fire and
when that Terra block went on fire and what some of you obviously I’m a
what some of you obviously I’m a
what some of you obviously I’m a building physics narrator I kind of know
building physics narrator I kind of know
building physics narrator I kind of know about this but what some of you
about this but what some of you
about this but what some of you realizes that one of the reasons why
realizes that one of the reasons why
realizes that one of the reasons why that fire was so bad why it spread so
that fire was so bad why it spread so
that fire was so bad why it spread so rapidly was because insulation had been
rapidly was because insulation had been
rapidly was because insulation had been put on the building and it hadn’t been
put on the building and it hadn’t been
put on the building and it hadn’t been thought through properly and it allowed
thought through properly and it allowed
thought through properly and it allowed the fire to spread so actually a project
the fire to spread so actually a project
the fire to spread so actually a project that was meant to improve the lives of
that was meant to improve the lives of
that was meant to improve the lives of people turned out to be a bit of a
people turned out to be a bit of a
people turned out to be a bit of a disaster in some respects so that’s the
disaster in some respects so that’s the
disaster in some respects so that’s the scale of the challenge that we’re facing
scale of the challenge that we’re facing
scale of the challenge that we’re facing we have increased population we have
we have increased population we have
we have increased population we have also a demand for increased standards we
also a demand for increased standards we
also a demand for increased standards we want better homes we want more
want better homes we want more
want better homes we want more energy-efficient homes we want more
energy-efficient homes we want more
energy-efficient homes we want more comfort everybody all over the world
comfort everybody all over the world
comfort everybody all over the world wants that and some people think that
wants that and some people think that
wants that and some people think that this is the solution a plastic wendy
this is the solution a plastic wendy
this is the solution a plastic wendy house okay so i am exaggerating a little
house okay so i am exaggerating a little
house okay so i am exaggerating a little bit
bit
bit I mean Wendy might insulate her house
I mean Wendy might insulate her house
I mean Wendy might insulate her house not quite as well as what engineers are
not quite as well as what engineers are
not quite as well as what engineers are proposing now but I am serious one of
proposing now but I am serious one of
proposing now but I am serious one of the main things we have in Europe now is
the main things we have in Europe now is
the main things we have in Europe now is a standard it’s a law actually it’s
a standard it’s a law actually it’s
a standard it’s a law actually it’s called the energy performance and
called the energy performance and
called the energy performance and buildings directive and what it says is
buildings directive and what it says is
buildings directive and what it says is that every country must set a minimum
that every country must set a minimum
that every country must set a minimum standard of energy performance for every
standard of energy performance for every
standard of energy performance for every new building and you have to realise
new building and you have to realise
new building and you have to realise that those standards are very very
that those standards are very very
that those standards are very very demanding and a lot of people think that
demanding and a lot of people think that
demanding and a lot of people think that building what’s called a passive house
building what’s called a passive house
building what’s called a passive house is the way to do it and it’s a brilliant
is the way to do it and it’s a brilliant
is the way to do it and it’s a brilliant design there’s no doubt about it
design there’s no doubt about it
design there’s no doubt about it it’s a concept where a series of
it’s a concept where a series of
it’s a concept where a series of equations works out what the energy
equations works out what the energy
equations works out what the energy demand of your home is and you’ve got to
demand of your home is and you’ve got to
demand of your home is and you’ve got to figure out how to make your home to that
figure out how to make your home to that
figure out how to make your home to that series of equations
series of equations
series of equations however things can go wrong
however things can go wrong
however things can go wrong because now what you’re doing is you’re
because now what you’re doing is you’re
because now what you’re doing is you’re literally wrapping your home in a
literally wrapping your home in a
literally wrapping your home in a plastic bag and we all know that if you
plastic bag and we all know that if you
plastic bag and we all know that if you do that and you don’t ventilate it
do that and you don’t ventilate it
do that and you don’t ventilate it properly then you get magic mushrooms
properly then you get magic mushrooms
properly then you get magic mushrooms okay try it sometime trust me
okay try it sometime trust me
okay try it sometime trust me so I want to talk to you a little bit
so I want to talk to you a little bit
so I want to talk to you a little bit about hem crease and why I think it
about hem crease and why I think it
about hem crease and why I think it could be the solution so first of all
could be the solution so first of all
could be the solution so first of all I’m going to tell you a little bit about
I’m going to tell you a little bit about
I’m going to tell you a little bit about it it’s a material that is made from the
it it’s a material that is made from the
it it’s a material that is made from the inner core which is also called a shiv
inner core which is also called a shiv
inner core which is also called a shiv of the hemp plant and it’s the
of the hemp plant and it’s the
of the hemp plant and it’s the industrial hemp variety not the other
industrial hemp variety not the other
industrial hemp variety not the other stuff it does look kind of the same all
stuff it does look kind of the same all
stuff it does look kind of the same all right I’ll give you that and for years
right I’ll give you that and for years
right I’ll give you that and for years people in the plastics industry were
people in the plastics industry were
people in the plastics industry were able to get the cultivation of this very
able to get the cultivation of this very
able to get the cultivation of this very severely restricted in the USA but it’s
severely restricted in the USA but it’s
severely restricted in the USA but it’s making a huge comeback and I’ll tell you
making a huge comeback and I’ll tell you
making a huge comeback and I’ll tell you a little bit more about that presently
a little bit more about that presently
a little bit more about that presently but first I want to tell you that homes
but first I want to tell you that homes
but first I want to tell you that homes that are built using natural materials
that are built using natural materials
that are built using natural materials like this cave home here in Spain keeps
like this cave home here in Spain keeps
like this cave home here in Spain keeps you cool inside even when it’s 40
you cool inside even when it’s 40
you cool inside even when it’s 40 degrees outside or maybe this home here
degrees outside or maybe this home here
degrees outside or maybe this home here in Germany’s type of a passive house it
in Germany’s type of a passive house it
in Germany’s type of a passive house it has lots of windows and the bricks were
has lots of windows and the bricks were
has lots of windows and the bricks were made locally right this type of science
made locally right this type of science
made locally right this type of science is how we always used to build for
is how we always used to build for
is how we always used to build for example this is my grandfather’s home I
example this is my grandfather’s home I
example this is my grandfather’s home I visited there about two or three weeks
visited there about two or three weeks
visited there about two or three weeks ago I was amazed to find that it was an
ago I was amazed to find that it was an
ago I was amazed to find that it was an earth house I mean it that never
earth house I mean it that never
earth house I mean it that never occurred to me before of course it was
occurred to me before of course it was
occurred to me before of course it was it was built maybe 150 years ago and
it was built maybe 150 years ago and
it was built maybe 150 years ago and it’s still standing and it’s still as
it’s still standing and it’s still as
it’s still standing and it’s still as dry as a bone
dry as a bone
dry as a bone so what are the advantages of this well
so what are the advantages of this well
so what are the advantages of this well number one it’s completely sustainable
number one it’s completely sustainable
number one it’s completely sustainable you can literally grow it in your garden
you can literally grow it in your garden
you can literally grow it in your garden and it’s one of the fastest growing
and it’s one of the fastest growing
and it’s one of the fastest growing plants in the world it requires very
plants in the world it requires very
plants in the world it requires very little fertilizer inputs also it makes a
little fertilizer inputs also it makes a
little fertilizer inputs also it makes a very light but thermally insulating
very light but thermally insulating
very light but thermally insulating material we add a little bit of lime to
material we add a little bit of lime to
material we add a little bit of lime to it where we can also add clay we can add
it where we can also add clay we can add
it where we can also add clay we can add a little bit of cement as well if we
a little bit of cement as well if we
a little bit of cement as well if we want to get it to set quicker and in our
want to get it to set quicker and in our
want to get it to set quicker and in our work here we decided to make bricks
work here we decided to make bricks
work here we decided to make bricks because one of the limitations with
because one of the limitations with
because one of the limitations with working with lime is that it’s very hard
working with lime is that it’s very hard
working with lime is that it’s very hard to get
to get
to get to set when it’s below -5 degrees or
to set when it’s below -5 degrees or
to set when it’s below -5 degrees or sorry 5 degrees so we figured that if we
sorry 5 degrees so we figured that if we
sorry 5 degrees so we figured that if we could make bricks in advance people if
could make bricks in advance people if
could make bricks in advance people if we told people how to do that and we
we told people how to do that and we
we told people how to do that and we standardized the whole process people
standardized the whole process people
standardized the whole process people could literally build grow and develop
could literally build grow and develop
could literally build grow and develop their own home while of they were
their own home while of they were
their own home while of they were sleeping now
sleeping now
sleeping now I also wanted to talk to you a little
I also wanted to talk to you a little
I also wanted to talk to you a little bit about why I decided to follow this
bit about why I decided to follow this
bit about why I decided to follow this road and how I came to follow what I’m
road and how I came to follow what I’m
road and how I came to follow what I’m calling this yellow brick road through
calling this yellow brick road through
calling this yellow brick road through pardon my pun so a number of years ago I
pardon my pun so a number of years ago I
pardon my pun so a number of years ago I was an IT consultant
was an IT consultant
was an IT consultant it was probably 15 20 years ago yeah I’m
it was probably 15 20 years ago yeah I’m
it was probably 15 20 years ago yeah I’m trying pretend an older member and a
trying pretend an older member and a
trying pretend an older member and a friend of mine said to me you know he
friend of mine said to me you know he
friend of mine said to me you know he was living he had a family home down in
was living he had a family home down in
was living he had a family home down in the West about and he said to me you
the West about and he said to me you
the West about and he said to me you know what there’s laws of wall down here
know what there’s laws of wall down here
know what there’s laws of wall down here and the sheep are just thrown it away
and the sheep are just thrown it away
and the sheep are just thrown it away and you know we did a little bit of
and you know we did a little bit of
and you know we did a little bit of research on it and we realized it you
research on it and we realized it you
research on it and we realized it you know
know
know wall is a very valuable commodity and
wall is a very valuable commodity and
wall is a very valuable commodity and it’s an excellent material for
it’s an excellent material for
it’s an excellent material for insulating so what we decided to do was
insulating so what we decided to do was
insulating so what we decided to do was to set up a company to manufacture
to set up a company to manufacture
to set up a company to manufacture insulation from sheep’s wool now about
insulation from sheep’s wool now about
insulation from sheep’s wool now about eight years later we sold that to
eight years later we sold that to
eight years later we sold that to investors in the UK we stayed with them
investors in the UK we stayed with them
investors in the UK we stayed with them for a little while
for a little while
for a little while and our goal was to be the world’s
and our goal was to be the world’s
and our goal was to be the world’s leading natural insulation company so we
leading natural insulation company so we
leading natural insulation company so we built a factory in Wales and you know we
built a factory in Wales and you know we
built a factory in Wales and you know we were driving around in fancy cars for a
were driving around in fancy cars for a
were driving around in fancy cars for a little while and you know after a while
little while and you know after a while
little while and you know after a while it something began to dawn on me that
it something began to dawn on me that
it something began to dawn on me that this wasn’t really the path that I
this wasn’t really the path that I
this wasn’t really the path that I wanted to be on so we parted company and
wanted to be on so we parted company and
wanted to be on so we parted company and in 2009 I found myself unemployed and
in 2009 I found myself unemployed and
in 2009 I found myself unemployed and not really sure at a crossroads you
not really sure at a crossroads you
not really sure at a crossroads you could even say and not really sure what
could even say and not really sure what
could even say and not really sure what the next thing was so I went back to
the next thing was so I went back to
the next thing was so I went back to college I retrained I became a kind of
college I retrained I became a kind of
college I retrained I became a kind of an
an
an engineer and then a couple of years
engineer and then a couple of years
engineer and then a couple of years later I was down in Cary and I do this
later I was down in Cary and I do this
later I was down in Cary and I do this course in hemp building now I was amazed
course in hemp building now I was amazed
course in hemp building now I was amazed to find that I just drove down this kind
to find that I just drove down this kind
to find that I just drove down this kind of road in the middle of nowhere and
of road in the middle of nowhere and
of road in the middle of nowhere and like I was on the side of a mountain I I
like I was on the side of a mountain I I
like I was on the side of a mountain I I didn’t know what to expect to be honest
didn’t know what to expect to be honest
didn’t know what to expect to be honest and the last bit of the road was only
and the last bit of the road was only
and the last bit of the road was only partly paved and I got up there and I
partly paved and I got up there and I
partly paved and I got up there and I said like I mean even in the right place
said like I mean even in the right place
said like I mean even in the right place but in there I found people from
but in there I found people from
but in there I found people from Singapore from Longford from Dublin from
Singapore from Longford from Dublin from
Singapore from Longford from Dublin from the USA there was a number of people
the USA there was a number of people
the USA there was a number of people from Poland at the center of it was an
from Poland at the center of it was an
from Poland at the center of it was an English guy named Steve Allen and he’s
English guy named Steve Allen and he’s
English guy named Steve Allen and he’s been living in Ireland for 30 years and
been living in Ireland for 30 years and
been living in Ireland for 30 years and he’s a pioneer of hemp building and he’s
he’s a pioneer of hemp building and he’s
he’s a pioneer of hemp building and he’s wrote a couple of books and from that
wrote a couple of books and from that
wrote a couple of books and from that remote carry hillside he has inspired
remote carry hillside he has inspired
remote carry hillside he has inspired what you might call a movement or I
what you might call a movement or I
what you might call a movement or I don’t know something an event happening
don’t know something an event happening
don’t know something an event happening but it’s an awakening of interest in
but it’s an awakening of interest in
but it’s an awakening of interest in building with hemp and you know when I
building with hemp and you know when I
building with hemp and you know when I delved into it a little bit more I found
delved into it a little bit more I found
delved into it a little bit more I found that you know he wasn’t even the first
that you know he wasn’t even the first
that you know he wasn’t even the first he was he had taken up the baton from
he was he had taken up the baton from
he was he had taken up the baton from people in France who had developed this
people in France who had developed this
people in France who had developed this idea as a way of conserving old
idea as a way of conserving old
idea as a way of conserving old buildings and a few years later I found
buildings and a few years later I found
buildings and a few years later I found myself doing a PhD and in my PhD now I’m
myself doing a PhD and in my PhD now I’m
myself doing a PhD and in my PhD now I’m trying to standardize this stuff because
trying to standardize this stuff because
trying to standardize this stuff because you can’t imagine this with any new
you can’t imagine this with any new
you can’t imagine this with any new technology that emerges where you have
technology that emerges where you have
technology that emerges where you have people from all walks of life who are
people from all walks of life who are
people from all walks of life who are trying to how would you say make
trying to how would you say make
trying to how would you say make something happen but for themselves it’s
something happen but for themselves it’s
something happen but for themselves it’s very difficult then to kind of get that
very difficult then to kind of get that
very difficult then to kind of get that to penetrate to a larger group of people
to penetrate to a larger group of people
to penetrate to a larger group of people you need to be a specialist to do it and
you need to be a specialist to do it and
you need to be a specialist to do it and all this kind of thing but I think that
all this kind of thing but I think that
all this kind of thing but I think that this is such an opportunity I mean this
this is such an opportunity I mean this
this is such an opportunity I mean this material can help us to save so much
material can help us to save so much
material can help us to save so much energy so many carbon emissions all the
energy so many carbon emissions all the
energy so many carbon emissions all the plastic houses I showed you earlier you
plastic houses I showed you earlier you
plastic houses I showed you earlier you can imagine what they’re made of they’re
can imagine what they’re made of they’re
can imagine what they’re made of they’re made of petrochemicals they’re made of
made of petrochemicals they’re made of
made of petrochemicals they’re made of concrete which is a very high pollutant
concrete which is a very high pollutant
concrete which is a very high pollutant so I had to learn one little lesson from
so I had to learn one little lesson from
so I had to learn one little lesson from all of the work that I had done up to
all of the work that I had done up to
all of the work that I had done up to that point in time I had to absorb it I
that point in time I had to absorb it I
that point in time I had to absorb it I had tried to be a leader in my field and
had tried to be a leader in my field and
had tried to be a leader in my field and I found myself on a path that I wasn’t
I found myself on a path that I wasn’t
I found myself on a path that I wasn’t really comfortable with I had to step
really comfortable with I had to step
really comfortable with I had to step back from that path and look at it life
back from that path and look at it life
back from that path and look at it life from a different perspective perspective
from a different perspective perspective
from a different perspective perspective where you come along and you build on
where you come along and you build on
where you come along and you build on what other people have pioneered and you
what other people have pioneered and you
what other people have pioneered and you try and add a little bit to it and then
try and add a little bit to it and then
try and add a little bit to it and then hopefully you create a set of guidelines
hopefully you create a set of guidelines
hopefully you create a set of guidelines are a little bit of information or a
are a little bit of information or a
are a little bit of information or a little bit of help that somebody else
little bit of help that somebody else
little bit of help that somebody else can come along and take and run and
can come along and take and run and
can come along and take and run and build their own home and grow their own
build their own home and grow their own
build their own home and grow their own home it’s all really what I want to say
home it’s all really what I want to say
home it’s all really what I want to say to you is what I learnt about leading is
to you is what I learnt about leading is
to you is what I learnt about leading is that first you have to learn how to
that first you have to learn how to
that first you have to learn how to follow thank you
follow thank you
follow thank you [Applause]
”
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