Ecological Alternatives - Straw Bale Houses

The interest in Straw Bale construction has increased in the last few years because of soaring construction costs and the diminishing supply of wood. This intriguing idea goes back to other periods of history and has been used frequently in Europe, but in recent years, due to modern techniques for compacting and forming the “cubes” that become building blocks for home construction, interest has been fanned in the United States and Canada.

Innovative architectural variations to the standard square are being designed as the usage of straw bale housing increases, including curved walls. Straw bale housing is easy to assemble, and there are workshops given on weekends to facilitate building know-how.  These are some of the advantages of straw bale housing:

*Annually renewable resource - straw used to be burned in the fields after harvest, but burning is now banned in many areas because of environmental impact, and cost of straw is quite inexpensive.
*Has no food value to termites, rodents, or bugs, so the walls will be pest free.

*As insulation, a stuccoed and plastered bale has a superior rating of R40-45, which is considered excellent and cuts utility bills.

*Low fire hazard. Straw bales do not burn easily. Good bales are compacted tightly and eliminate oxygen. Trying to burn straw bales is like trying to burn a telephone book.

*Straw bale construction is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. There are no noxious chemicals within straw or used to build the houses, so people who are chemically sensitive have a safe environment in which to live.

*Straw bale houses are very sturdy, contrary to the story of the Three Little Pigs. Houses of straw built in Europe have lasted for centuries.

The only hazard to a straw bale is water. Once the house is stuccoed and plastered within the frame, there is no problem. However, during the building phase and when storing the bales, they must be protected because they can deteriorate if they get soaked.

If the idea of straw bale housing appeals to you, check with your city planning department to see if they are legal in your area, and ask if they have a list of reliable contractors who build straw bale houses.

From Seasons of the Soul 1996