[SECTION NAME]
Steen notes that, in contrast to conventional framing, a well-constructed straw-bale wall is much more effective in insulation, helping a homeowner save money as well as conserve resources. “I haven’t seen a study comparing exactly sized homes, conventional, adobe and straw bale—that would be tough because everything would have to be identical except for the structural method—but I sincerely believe that straw bales will outperform the other methods,” he says. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Environmental benefits are also significant. By building with straw bales, fewer bales are burned as waste, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions. What’s more, because straw is almost universally locally available, transportation costs to site are reduced. Finally, straw is quickly renewable. Testing laboratories have found straw bales to be more resistant to fire than conventional framing because of low oxygen levels and because load walls are seismically strong and hold up against high wind speeds. Noise absorption is also better and, when the bales are correctly plastered and sided, bugs and rodents
designing healthy homes clintmillerarchitect.com greenlivingaz.com
480.585.3746 October 2013 | greenliving
3