Straw Bale Straw Bale ConstructionConstruction

A Path to SustainabilityA Path to Sustainability

Julie Birdwell, New Prairie Construction Co.

Building with StrawBuilding with Straw

Energy EfficientEnergy Efficient Structurally SuperiorStructurally Superior Community Building and Personal Community Building and Personal

AestheticsAesthetics

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

Low Embodied Energy of StrawLow Embodied Energy of Straw– Uses an agricultural waste productUses an agricultural waste product– Renewable as next year’s grain cropRenewable as next year’s grain crop

High “R” Value (R 34 –R 55) in wallsHigh “R” Value (R 34 –R 55) in walls

Healthy Material ChoicesHealthy Material Choices

Wall package contains no VOC’s Wall package contains no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds)(volatile organic compounds)

Earthen plasters for interior finishesEarthen plasters for interior finishes– Reduces construction waste & haulingReduces construction waste & hauling– Low embodied energy ingredientsLow embodied energy ingredients– Painting not requiredPainting not required

Stucco/Plaster serves as masonry Stucco/Plaster serves as masonry massmass

Structural IntegrityStructural Integrity

Straw bale houses more earthquake Straw bale houses more earthquake resistantresistant

Two hour fire wallTwo hour fire wall Exceptionally strong Exceptionally strong

– 100 lbs/lf lateral force load strength*100 lbs/lf lateral force load strength*– 4000 lbs/lf compressive load strength*4000 lbs/lf compressive load strength*

*when finished with cement stucco

Community BenefitsCommunity Benefits

““High Tech” expertise not requiredHigh Tech” expertise not required Encourages community building Encourages community building

through participation in buildingthrough participation in building Supports local agricultureSupports local agriculture EconomicalEconomical

– 1 straw bale = insulation + sheathing + studs + 1 straw bale = insulation + sheathing + studs + drywalldrywall

– $1/sqf straw bale; $3.41/sqf standard construction $1/sqf straw bale; $3.41/sqf standard construction with same R-valuewith same R-value

AestheticsAesthetics

Design flexibilityDesign flexibility– Creativity in constructionCreativity in construction– Biomorphic to angular/modernBiomorphic to angular/modern

Urbana Straw Bale “Green” Urbana Straw Bale “Green” FeaturesFeatures

Rastra Foundation Rastra Foundation Walls (R-34, 85% Walls (R-34, 85% recycled styrofoam recycled styrofoam ICF)ICF)

Rye Straw Bales Rye Straw Bales from Organic from Organic FarmerFarmer

Cellulose Ceiling Insulation (recycled Cellulose Ceiling Insulation (recycled newspaper)newspaper)

Reclaimed Maple Great Room FloorReclaimed Maple Great Room Floor

Bamboo Floors Bamboo Floors in Bedroomsin Bedrooms

Reclaimed Reclaimed Yellow Pine Yellow Pine Jambs, Interior Jambs, Interior Doors, and TrimDoors, and Trim

Reclaimed Slate Reclaimed Slate CountertopsCountertops

Recycled Porch FlooringRecycled Porch Flooring High Efficiency Gas Forced Air High Efficiency Gas Forced Air

FurnaceFurnace Corn Stove- lower level; Wood Stove- Corn Stove- lower level; Wood Stove-

first floorfirst floor Low E glass for windows/skylightsLow E glass for windows/skylights

Engineered Engineered Lumber Lumber Bearing Beams Bearing Beams and Floor Joistsand Floor Joists

Trussed Roof Trussed Roof SystemSystem

Natural Paints- Natural Paints- 11stst floor interior floor interior

Outdoor KitchenOutdoor Kitchen Outdoor Clothes Outdoor Clothes

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