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Straw Bale Construction

Straw Bale Construction. Lisa Patrick, Matt Tosi, Anna Kovaliv. What is it?. Environmentally friendly building method that uses straw bales as structural elements and/or insulation. What is it?. Straw is the stalk left over after cereal crops such as rice, wheat, and barley are harvested.

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Straw Bale Construction

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  1. Straw Bale Construction Lisa Patrick, Matt Tosi, Anna Kovaliv

  2. What is it? • Environmentally friendly building method that uses straw bales as structural elements and/or insulation

  3. What is it? • Straw is the stalk left over after cereal crops such as rice, wheat, and barley are harvested.

  4. History • Has been used in construction ever since humans have created shelter • Used for centuries in Asia and Europe, began as a plaster mixture

  5. History • First used in the United States in the Great Plains due to the lack of timber • Making a comeback because of high amount of benefits

  6. Self-Supporting Method • “Nebraska-style” • Use bales as if they were large bricks, compressed with heavy material • Plastered on both sides • Usually limited to one story

  7. Self-Supporting Method

  8. Post & Beam Method • Use bales as insulation within an existing frame • Plastered on both sides • Allows for any size house to be built • Most widely accepted method in the United States

  9. Post & Beam Method

  10. Benefits • Green Building method using an annually renewable resource • Uses less energy consumption to harvest, produce, and transport bales than conventional methods (timber) • Directly supports local economy

  11. Benefits • Utilizing a waste product of an existing industry Annual carbon monoxide production from power plants and straw burning  California Agricultural Magazine, Vol 45, (1991)

  12. Benefits • Energy efficient due to high insulating value (R-value) • Walls constantly breathe, circulating air, while still providing superior thermal insulation • Walls are very soundproof

  13. Concerns? • Is my house going to burn down?No! • The bales hold enough air for good insulation but compacted tightly enough to discourage combustion. • High silica content in straw impedes fire • The plaster can reach temperatures of 1850 degrees F for 2 hours before cracking.

  14. Concerns? • Will bugs or rodents eat my house?No! • There is no nutritional value in straw • Burrowing can be limited by careful plaster application and tightly woven wire mesh surrounding bales

  15. Concerns? • Will my house rot?No! • Walls are breathable enough that condensation is limited

  16. Questions?

  17. Bibliography • www.foodforest.com • www.piedrasyolas.com • www.buildinggreen.com • www.pangeapartnership.org

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