Building a Straw Bale Residence to Call Home
 DWELL Modern Architecture Straw Bale House 10/04  US $10.00
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 BUILDING GREEN house book EARTH straw bale CORDWOOD cob US $10.00
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 Medium Straw Bale 6"X6"X12"-Natural US $10.78
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 HUTS HAVENS & HIDEAWAYS, CABIN ARCHITECTURE,STRAW BALE US $10.88
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 30 SOLID Wood AMISH Toy Horse Barn Hay Straw Bale Bales US $11.00
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 1212 BUSCH Hay Bale Set; 18 Square, 16 Round & 6 Straw US $12.75
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Building a straw bale residence to call home uses a method of construction that results in a resource-efficient and energy-conserving home, without sacrificing affordability or quality.
People want comfortable, attractive, functional, and durable housing. Conventional building methods rely on plentiful resources like wood and stone. As these resources dwindle, housing costs sky rocket. A straw bale house takes advantage of a natural resource which is easily renewable, energy efficient, plentiful, and easy to work with - straw!
Straw bale construction is a practical but under-utilized construction method. Initiated in the United States at the turn of the 20th century, straw bale house construction is making a comeback. Walls of straw, easily constructed and structurally sound, promise to reduce the use of wood in new home construction.
Straw is a viable building alternative. Straw is plentiful and cheap. Straw bale buildings boast superinsulated walls (R-50), simple construction, low costs, and the conversion of an agricultural byproduct into a valued building material.
When properly constructed and maintained, straw bale walls, and the stucco exterior and plaster interior, remain water proof, fire resistant, and pest free.
Because only limited skill is required to build a straw bale structure, a community house-raising effort can assemble most of a straw bale house in a single day. This effort yields a low-cost, elegant, and energy-efficient living space for the owners, a graceful addition to the community, and a desirable boost to local farm income.