THE Canada-based Greenheart Tree Energy Guyana Inc. says that the cost of its ‘green’ homes is expected to be significantly cheaper than that of regular houses.
That is once the company is able to operate a factory that will help produce material useful to the construction of the structures.
Guyanese businessman, Esmonde Klass, who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, has partnered with overseas agencies to introduce a new building material to the Guyanese market called magnesium oxide (MgO) wallboards. The material is said to have personal and environmental benefits, but the CEO has not yet revealed the current cost of building such a home for locals.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Klass said he is unable to give the cost per unit of the environmentally-friendly housing at this point, since his company had incurred external costs that include, among other things, the importation of the ‘green’ material.
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS
Based on the financial criteria provided by the Ministry of Housing for the construction of houses for low, middle and higher-income earners, “Greenheart” says that for example, if a low- budget homeowner purchases a low-income house from the company, they could pay significantly less, once the factory is operationalised.

It was noted that Ministry of Housing’s price range for low-income homes is between $5M and $7M.
“Greenheart” is among many other contractors building homes for the Ministry of Housing’s upcoming housing exhibition. Klass said that the company would be able to offer a definite price for the units closer to the event.
The Guyanese-owned company is insistent, however, that the new material is a viable product to be incorporated into the local construction industry, given its numerous benefits.
“The factory that we intend to build,” he said, “is for the construction of the magnesium oxide (MgO) ‘green’ panels, insulation and trusses for the homes.” He said the company will not actually manufacture the magnesium boards, but rather the composite panels, using Structured Insulated Panels (SIP) technology.
SIPs, Klass said, are 21st Century, high- performance building materials that are used in the construction of floors, walls and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings.
The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural facings, he said.
OVERSEAS PARTNERS
“Greenheart” has partnered with LS Tech-Homes SA and Royal Europa. LS Tech-Homes SA is the owner of the technology that is used in the construction of the homes. Said Klass, “GreenHeartTree Energy Guyana Inc. will negotiate the rights to use this technology in their homes.”
Royal Europa, on the other hand, is the company that will be supplying all the exterior fittings, doors, windows and fences, in addition to other materials for the homes. They will also set up and deal with assembly, once the manufacturing plant is established.
Klass explained that because magnesium oxide (also called magnesia) boards are environmentally-friendly, they’re ideal for persons who suffer from allergies and other related illnesses. The material is also fire-proof, and would take as long as 20 to 30 minutes to start decomposing under intense heat.
Houses made of magnesia boards, he said, come prefabricated, and can be assembled in two days. They’re pieced together, raised and anchored, thereby making expansion easier as opposed to houses made of concrete or wood, which have to be first destroyed or dismantled before anything can be done. In the case of this new-fangled technology, all that needs to be done is simply raise the particular MgO board and remove it so as to get down to business.
Klass said that the product is internationally approved and is said to be just as reliable or even better than common materials used for domestic structures.