Building in Straw

The advantages of using straw-bale for construction are increasingly well documented.

Alongside the aesthetics and unique feel of a straw-bale home, two major benefits are:

  • Improved insulation.
  • Reduced environmental impact.

Insulation

Straw works on the principal of thermal retention and straw bales provide insulation of between R7 & R10, traditional wall batts provide R2.2. As a result, Straw-bale walls allow greater efficiency in heating and cooling.

Straw-bale walls:

  • increase the efficiency of a solar-passive construction thus reducing the need for heating and cooling equipment
  • allow installation of smaller heating or cooling systems than those in conventional homes.
  • provide substantial savings in power and/or wood-fuel bills.
  • open up the potential for a variety of alternative heating/cooling systems.

Environmental Impact

Straw is generally a waste product and is often burnt by farmers. This produces carbon dioxide, contributing to the problem of greenhouse gases.

Straw burning causes air pollution through smoke and particulate emission. For example, every 1 million tons of straw burned releases 56,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Straw can be grown in less than half a year in contrast to timber which can take up to 20 years to grow timber for a house. A much more sustainable material.

If you’d like to discuss the possibilities of straw-bale building don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Little Pig Building Company, more than just a builder.

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