Build a straw-bale house.. ultra-green & cheap to heat/cool

[SoCalDem]

http://www.alisongannett.com/display.php?id=56
http://www.greenbuilder.com/general/buildingsources.html

more resources & pics @
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=truth+window&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
The home was built in 4 1/2 months in 1997. It incorporates a passive-solar design while also integrating sustainable, local and affordable non-toxic building materials.

The home was built at about three quarters the price per square foot of traditional homes – not due to the fact that it is straw, but because of the affordable foundation design, efficient framing, local basic materials, downsized heating system, salvaged materials, and intensive research on affordable green building materials.

Straw homes last as long as traditional wood framed homes, as both materials start to rot at 7% moisture content. They are five times more fire retardant due to the lack of oxygen in the cemented wheat bales. The R40 walls are 2 times more insulating than framed homes.

The straw is from the Alamosa valley, and was tested with a moisture meter for dryness before construction. Most of the wood used is local Gunnison County lumber, and the inside walls are plastered in local CB south clay. All paints, stains, and finishes are non-toxic, 0% VOC’s. The outside walls are natural cement based concrete, which, unlike latex based stucco, allows moisture to escape and prevents damage.

It does occasionally crack. The windows super-insulated Hurd Heat Mirror windows, and appliances are super-energy and water-efficient. The biggest cost savings came from the monolithic 14” shallow slab foundation/first floor, which was dyed with iron oxide for color. The second and third floor/ceiling system is beetle-kill pine, thereby avoiding the formaldehyde and cost of plywood.

Due to the increased insulation, the heating system could be downsized in half – saving both energy and the high cost of installing a boiler. The solar hot water thermal panels heat the incoming water before it reaches the hotwater heater – providing both heat and hot water for the house.


supposedly all of them have a "truth window"

[devilgrrl]

1. My friends in New Mexico have a hay bale house...

they rarely turn the heat or air on.... I was impressed... as well as GREEN with envy!

[Selatius]

2. Watch out for the big, bad wolf!

:evilgrin:

[SoCalDem]

3. They are supposed to withstand "wind" ..so huff and puff

[Swamp Rat]

8. Beat me to it!

:spank:

[daninthemoon]

9. I see it now. Maybe "the three little pigs" was an early example of

corporate consumer brainwashing.
"Don't build out of straw. Let us build for you out of bricks. Otherwise, how can we keep you safe?"
Nefarious bastards.

[SoCalDem]

10. Owner of the BBW brick company, no doubt

[AlGore-08.com]

4. What about insects and rodents and other animals that might want to burrow into the hay?

This is a serious question. I can't imagine that many hay bales without some "surprises" inside. Do they treat the hay before they use it, or do the critters just live (and eventually die) in the hay?

[SoCalDem]

5. The bales are the insulation and form.. they get stuccoed (adobe)

and insects & weather do not affect them :)

The special I saw said that the normal house walls are r-9 and bale walls are r-30.:)

[robinlynne]

6. I jsut wacthed the pbs show about this and went to the web to loook up straw bale housing.

Did you do the same? what a great idea for california. no air conditioning needed!

[SoCalDem]

7. Gotta love Heull Howser.. here's a great link

http://www.dancingrabbit.org/building/straw_bale.php

[MagickMuffin]

11. Building Green was the name of the show

http://www.buildinggreentv.com/

I posted about this after the fires in So.Cal. This is an excellent show. Shows how to build the whole house using green materials.

The house from the series