Implementing eco-friendly changes at home is one of the best ways to be eco-friendly. Houses and buildings consume a lot of energy. So what is an eco-friendly, energy efficient house? Experts point out to straw houses that are truly eco-friendly. They can reduce energy consumption up to 90%. Isn?t that great?
Let?s know more about this energy efficient straw houses.
Cost efficient
Construction of straw houses are not only eco-friendly but they are cost efficient too. Advantages of straw-bale construction over conventional building systems include the renewable nature of straw, cost, easy availability, naturally fire-retardant and high insulation value. It provides the farmer with an extra source of income. It is also cheaper than buying conventional building materials. General Construction material includes - Concrete, adobe bricks, screws, nails, nuts, bolts, fasteners, wire mesh, rebar, caulk, rain gutters, sand, gravel, stone, sheetrock, tarps, insulation, etc.
Good insulation
Straw bale walls are good in climates that require temperature change in the home. Straw is an incredibly good insulator and therefore helps to keep the building cold during the summer and warm during the winter. In turn, this means the home uses less energy and the owner spends less on bills. Testing has shown the insulating performance of straw bale walls to be roughly twice to three times the real life performance of typical frame wall systems. This significantly reduces heating and cooling bills and the life-cycle cost of a straw bale home.
Healthy Way
Organically grown straw and earthen or cement-lime based plasters provide a potential solution for the health-threatening paints, glues and toxins found in manufactured building materials. Straw bale homes have been built and praised by asthma and allergy sufferers and individuals with acute environmental sensitivities.
Innovative and Beautiful
The straw bale house is unique and innovative. It also allows for new and creative custom designs. It is easily adapted to suit traditional designs. Due to the thickness of straw bale walls, every window can have a window seat or shelf. This becomes both an aesthetic and practical design element.
100% biodegradable
Straw bales are 100% biodegradable—when the time comes. Straw Bale homes can last over 100 years if properly maintained. When the time comes, the straw bales can be plowed back into the earth. There is no disposal problems
This energy efficient method may soon become the future of construction industry.
7 Comments
We should be really careful to use the straw bale home especially when cooking :^)
Thanks for sharing the interesting news!
Posted 03-04-2015 15:37
Wow, these eco- friendly straw bale house look amazing with so many merits over modern concrete buildings. In Nepal few years ago, we could see many straw houses (even we had such straw house) but nowadays due to so called modernization we rarely find it.
Let us hope these sorts of houses be strategies in near future.
Thank you for this wonderful report dear Afra :)
Posted 02-04-2015 23:52
These houses look innovative and trendy and are the same time eco friendly.
Hope to shift in one in near future :D
Thanks for sharing
Posted 02-04-2015 19:44
yes yes!! I once stayed at a hotel that has rooms made out of straws and I tell you it looked amazing beyond words.. I think I will write about it in my next article.. it was beautiful.. Awesome report Afra!
Posted 01-04-2015 19:27
First time seeing straw house. Perhaps in future straw house will be a trend.
Posted 01-04-2015 10:02
Wow, I've never seen houses like that! Thank you for sharing interesting news, Afra :)
It seems like that all environmental diseases like atopic dermatitis will be gone in the house.
Only one thing, fire fighting system should be perfect as it's inflammable.
Posted 01-04-2015 09:19
Quite interesting and informative , Afra.
I never thought straw houses could look this beautiful and trendy. Thanks for sharing .
Posted 01-04-2015 04:14