by Paz

LEADER PROFILE

Wilfredo Paz Bermudez: Pushing hemp into the mainstream

I’m doing what I can as an engineer to push industrial hemp into the mainstream construction industry. My firm is licensed in California (and soon other states) to design residential, commercial, and industrial facilities. We’re applying our existing knowledge of construction and engineering design towards industrial hemp applications. There are currently three areas of growth we’re focused on: code compliant engineered designs, material research, and improving construction practices. As a licensed civil engineer, my role in the hemp industry transcends beyond my duties within my company. We are helping material suppliers seek required approvals from local building departments, connecting them with architects, builders, and the general public. We also need to help educate builders, architects, and other engineers as to how to safely and effectively construct hemp products.

I personally feel responsible for positioning my firm to contribute to tangible positive change to combat climate change and socio-economic injustice. My last name, “Paz” translates to “Peace”, so our company is trying to help contribute to the hemp industry and the overall well being of the planet “piece by peace.”

What most interests you about hemp and hemp building and why?

Innovative, sustainable building materials have been something our firm has been working on since we were founded. We have a deep interest in reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint. Hemp and hemp construction products can significantly contribute to this carbon reduction. There’s sufficient data to back that statement. We just need to compile the data, be creative, and push forward.

Wilfredo Paz Bermudez, ENV. SP., P.E., Founder Piece by Paz

What was a win for your company in the past year?

One of our major wins was connecting with the folks of Hemp Build Mag. They have connected us with other hemp professionals all over the industry. In my experience with other construction materials organizations, this has been the friendliest and easiest to talk to.

What is something about hemp building/construction/processing you didn’t know a year ago?

One year ago, I didn’t realize the countless benefits hemp has. I didn’t know how versatile it is and how effective it is as a building material. We’re still uncovering all of hemp’s properties and benefits. We also didn’t know how involved and passionate the hemp community is. We’re happy to be a part of it.

What challenges does the hemp building industry face that it must overcome in the next five years?

The three major challenges we see are: 1. Rogue builders 2. Establishing building standards 3. Re-inventing the wheel

Rogue builders who want to construct with hemp products without engineered designs and building permits. This type of rogue construction can signal to skeptics that we are trying to bypass the existing building and safety standards because we can’t meet them. On the contrary, we can significantly exceed today’s building standards and we have no reason to hide from building officials. We need to collectively establish agreedupon industry standards. This will help streamline approval processes and construction. We don’t want individuals and companies all over the world reinventing the wheel by creating their own version of the same thing. We of course want to allow individuals to be creative and to have enough freedom with their construction projects, but we need to build off of each other as an industry. We need to build off each other to improve and innovate.