Maybe your first thought that comes to mind is of a couple of kids building a six-foot-high square of straw bales, and then stacking a few on top for a roof. Not bad, actually, and that's almost how the entire idea about building with straw bales began about 100 years ago in the sand hills of Nebraska. You see, there wasn't much wood out there on the prairie, but there sure as heck was a lot of grass. Bale and stack, pile a few bales on top for the roof, and you have a house.
The new straw houses are based on that exact principle, albeit, with a modern technological twist or two. Generally, a wooden frame is constructed first, then bales are stacked against the frame and secured with wire mesh. A wooden roof covers the structure, and a lime-based plaster is coated over the inside and outside to smooth everything out.
Although, those directions sound a bit simplistic, they are the basics for building the most natural and energy efficient structures on the planet. Because straw bales are such an incredible insulator, people have claimed heating and cooling bills as low as 10 dollars per month! Plastered straw bales are even rated as a class ‘A' fire resistant material, which means they are a 2 plus hour rated fire wall. Try finding that kind of resistance to fire in a standard wooden framed house!
There are no chemicals involved in their building, no plastics, no formaldehydes, no foam, and they will return naturally to the earth if they are left abandoned. Straw is a natural sound barrier too, and it will even reduce pollen, molds and toxins from getting inside as well. And the windows, wow, the windows might be the best part. They are all deep and set back into the wall. This makes each one perfect for a bench or houseplants, a little sitting or reading nook, or a place to have a comfy chair where you can put your feet up on the sill and relax. If it sounds almost too good to be true, well, folks, it's not.
Straw bale homes are the real deal when it comes to green living. Easy to build and maintain, they are fast becoming the bio-friendly house of choice, and because they are so user friendly, they make a perfect platform when using alternative ways for heating and cooling. Plus, not only are they efficient and functional in every respect, they look beautiful too!
Here's a link for a quick run through on building your own straw bale house by one of the premier straw bale builders in the U.S. It will give you a little insight on what it takes to build one, and you can even order a DVD to see for yourself what a straw bale house is all about!
Source: BecauseAction.com
