Straw Bale Homes: A Natural Choice

Written by Shelly Paul

For most of us our first introduction to a house made of straw was likely in the children’s story; The Three Little Pigs. The type of straw home that is becoming quite popular today is quite different from the one that was blown down by the big bad wolf. Straw bale houses are not only sturdy and beautiful; they are also healthy for those sensitive to chemicals/allergies, extremely energy efficient, environmentally responsible and inexpensive to build. On its own, a piece of straw is fragile, but thousands bunched together, compressed and stacked, fill walls more efficiently than other insulators. Plaster them (both sides of each wall) add a roof, and you have a naturally insulated home. Being creative with room shapes is easy, as the straw can be shaped to your desire before plastering, offering endless aesthetic potential. The staff of straw is generally a waste product of wheat/grain, and therefore can be purchased quite inexpensively. It requires only one season to grow making it a highly renewable agricultural by-product, which not only has a positive impact on the environment, but also on local farming communities. These homes require half as much timber as regular wood framed homes reducing the demand on trees that need years to grow. When straw bales are stacked they create a super energy & sound insulating wall that holds temperatures for approximately 24 hours. Studies by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation have shown that bale homes typically use 25-50% less heating and cooling energy than their frame-walled equivalents. With a reduction in fossil fuels to build & heat/cool homes, global warming will be impacted by the reduction of carbon entering the atmosphere. Unlike manufactured insulation, straw bales are natural and do not emit toxic gases that can cause health problems. Walls are breathable with less condensation reducing the presence of mould. Straw bales actually have a better fire rating than foam insulation. Foam insulation ignites, where straw smolders, allowing time to evacuate. Melanie Earle & Robert Mitchell recently built their dream home out of straw on 28 acres in Rocklyn, Ontario. They built it themselves with the help of their neighbours and friends in less than one year. Melanie & Robert were initially drawn to the idea because of the beauty of the straw bale homes, energy efficiency, environmental consideration and the savings in cost. While building their home, they lived on their land in a trailer. They woke up each morning and worked on the house, pushing themselves through the heat and fatigue, learning about themselves in the process. The straw came from their neighbours land and their community got involved, some had never held a hammer before. The result: a beautiful 2 storey, 2600 sq.ft, post & beam straw bale home with radiant floor heat and a masonary fireplace (thermal mass) boasting an insulation rating of R50 (double of many houses). “It is important to keep in mind the climate that you are building in and for when researching your own project”, says Melanie and recommends the website www.strawbalebuilding.ca for anyone who is interested in learning more about straw bale homes. This amazing concept of straw bale homes is one that requires an open & curious mind. Ironically many of those who have ended up building their own homes out of straw began as the biggest skeptics of all. It’s amazing how a little research can change everything.

 

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