The Benefits of Building a Straw Bale House

Video Transcript

"Okay, now we’re going to cover some of the benefits of straw bale construction. One of the biggest benefits is their insulation value. It can be anywhere from 24 to R-52 which is double or triple that of a two by four wall or a two by six wall, typical wood frame construction. So, one of the biggest ones is the insulation factor. One of my favorites is just the beauty and comfort of them. A straw bale home- they’re just beautiful to walk into, you feel so connected to the Earth, and they’re just peaceful- they’re just plain old peaceful. “With all things considered, straw bales really stack up as a remarkable building material. They are produced from a waste product that can be sustainably grown in a short period of time. They’re biodegradable and can help alleviate multiple environmental problems with their use. They’re easy to modify, flexible enough to be used in a variety of ways, solid and substantial, durable over time and easy to maintain. In addition, they require only inexpensive, uncomplicated tools and unspecialized labor and are easily acquired and are affordable in most locations around the world.” “There’s enough straw in the U.S. to build five million straw bale 2000 square foot homes a year.” Think of all the number of trees we could save by doing straw instead of trees- you know, using typical lumber. And a super insulated, straw bale home can be built for anywhere from fifteen to forty-five dollars a square foot. And if you have a contractor doing it, of course it’s going to be a little more than that. So it’s user friendly, it’s something anybody can do, a great way to build your first home, and learn about building, and it’s just a wonderful material. "