CHALLENGE FUTURE: COMPETTITION 2011

1. CHALLENGE FUTURE: COMPETTITION 2011 IT AIN´T HAY (An ideaworth more thenworthlesshay)

2. Vision Intraduction/ vision Straw bale constructionanddesign is a modern concept, butthereevenexists evidence thatstrawwas used to make homes in Africanprairies as far back as thePaleolithictimes.Alternativenaturalmaterials, specificallytheirapplications, haveonlyrecentlymadetheirwayinto more commonuse.Theideasofbeinggreenandsustainable in response to globalwarmingandclimatechangeshifted more of a focusontothematerialsandmethods used to buildourcityscapeandhomesinterrior. As enviromentallyconsciosdecisionsbecamecommonplace, theuseof alternative naturalmaterialsinsteadoftypicalnaturalmaterials or man-madematerialsthatrelyheavily on naturalresourcesbecomepromiment. I wentwithmyfriend on holiday. It was in themountains on a farm wherehisgrandfaterlives. One daywesawhisneighbourwholivedaloneandwastraying to movestrawbales in hishayloft. Hewasreallyold so me andmyfrienddecided to offerhimhelp so thejobwouldbe done sooner. After a couplesofhoureswefinalyfinishedwhatwestarted. Wewerereallytired so we take a rest on one ofthestrawballandenjoyanendof a hardworkingday. In that moment westarted to talk howcomfortable is on thisstrawballsandtheqouestioncamealmostitself:Whypeopledontusehayforfillingtheircauches, sofasandbeds?? In additiontheoldfarmertold us thatthe sad thing is thathedonthaveanywhere to usethishay, becausehedoesnthaveanimals on hisfarm anymoreandnobodyelsedoesntneed it.

3. Interviews How do youseefuncanbeconnected to sustainabledevelopment ? A competition. Wecouldhavecompettitionsforcollectingwaste in nature , the one whocollectsthe most, wins. Maybe some nicepricesforthebestthreewouldattracteventhelazyones. (Miha, 25 yearsold) I wouldimplement a hidraulic device on thechildren´s playground so whiletheywouldplaytheywouldalsoproduceenergy. Thequontityofenergywouldbenegligiblebuttheway to educatechildrenaboutsustainabilitywouldbesimpleandfun. ( Niko, 27 yearsold) 3. Shering. Car sharing, bikes, anykindoftools or toys . (Iva, 30 yearsold) Dancingfloorwichproduceelektrictywhilepeoplewoulddance on it. Theywouldusetheirkineticenergyformakingelectricity. Thatsfunandsustainable… ( Blaz, 24 yearsold) Hightaxes on gasolinepriceswichwouldbe used to subsidisepublictransportation. ( Marko, 27 yearsold)

4. Who, whatandwhy • Forfurtherresearch i would like to interview profesor dr. Miha Humar fromBiotechnicalFaculty, departmentofwood or hisassistants. Profesor Humar alsoworks in Institute fortestingandcertifcationoffurniture, outsidetoysandsportsgear. • Ifthecontactwith profesor wouldberequred i wouldaskhimhowcanweexplore: • - Dimensionalcompliance • - Ergonomicfeatures • - Stabilityoftheproduct • - Mechanicalandstrusturalproperties • Durabilityoftheproduct • Impact on thehealthoftheusers • - Theimpact on theenvironment

5. Theuseofstrawbalescanhave a hugeimpact on ournaturalresourcesandairpollution. Eachyear, the U.S. aloneburns or disposesof 200 milliontonsof ˝ wastestraw˝, producingmassiveamountsofcarbondioxide.Theuseofstraw as insulation or fillingmateraolforbeds, sofasreducestheneedforinitialenergyoutputs in regards to manufacturing. There is lessembodiedenergy in straw as it is available in almosteverylocal market, therebyreducingtransportioncostsandefforts. Straw is renewableresourcethathas one yeargrowth/ harvestcycle. Byusingthislocal, agriculturalby- product as a building material, wecanreduceenergyexpanditures, theamountofstrawburnedandtheuseoffossilfuelsneededfor material transportation