Straw Is Surpisingly Good For Home Building

Homes built with bales of straw are immune to earthquake and fire, and don't need air conditioning.

1 minute read

June 10, 2001, 10:00 AM PDT

"Straw-bale construction, because of its density, is extremely fire resistant, but it also has many more attractive qualities, Dunham discovered. When it comes to insulation, it beats normal 2-by-4 wall construction hands down. Standard houses' R-value (the measure of a wall's resistance to heat or coolness) ranges from a rating of 13 to 19. With straw bales as insulation, the resistance level rockets to a rate of 40 to 50. Plus, straw is cheap, and, when stucco-covered, it is far less susceptible to termites than wood."

Thanks to Mindy Oliver

FULL STORY: Going for a Boulder Idea in Home Building

Sunday, June 10, 2001 in The Los Angeles Times

Housing California

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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