Project S.T.R.A.W. is building a passive solar strawbale house in Seneca County, Ohio to be completed by summer 2011. The project aims to educate people about affordable and sustainable building using natural materials like strawbale insulation. Features include passive solar design, solar panels, and the goal of net zero energy usage. Volunteers are helping with construction to both save costs and teach others sustainable building techniques.
This document discusses the history and process of straw bale construction. It notes that straw bale construction dates back to the late 1800s with the first recorded structure being a schoolhouse in Nebraska in 1886. It provides examples of still standing straw bale structures from over 100 years ago. Additionally, it outlines the benefits of straw bale construction in terms of using agricultural waste, energy efficiency, sustainability and lower life cycle costs. The document addresses common questions about the durability, structural supports, pest resistance, fire safety and load capacity of straw bale buildings. It then describes the step-by-step process of building a straw bale home through laying foundations, stacking bales, adding a roof, finishing with stuc
This document describes the process of building a straw bale home over multiple seasons. It details laying the foundation in February, compacting and pouring concrete footings. In the hottest day of the year, 500 straw bales were delivered and stacked to begin construction of the walls. Framing was completed with the help of others, including standing up roof trusses. Gradually, the straw bale walls took shape through careful measuring, cutting, and placing of each bale. Tar paper was installed and stucco mesh was applied and sewn to the bales before plastering the exterior. While construction continued through the winter with tarps surrounding the house, interior walls were laid out before more finishing work inside the home
This document describes several global permaculture projects that are working to address environmental problems in a sustainable way. It discusses projects in Iraq, Macedonia, Thailand, Peru, and Massachusetts that are using permaculture principles to regenerate landscapes and communities. The projects focus on earthworks, agroforestry, appropriate technology, food production, and cultural preservation through integrated food, energy and economic systems.
Built-in furniture offers advantages over freestanding furniture by being less expensive and allowing for more creative interior design with unlimited space. Built-in furniture can be part of the interior architecture. Straw bale construction uses bales of straw as an insulative building material stacked like blocks. It provides economic and environmental benefits but has challenges with moisture and permitting. Structurally, it can be load-bearing or use a post and beam frame, and testing has shown straw bale walls outperform standard wood frame walls in terms of fire resistance and strength.
This document describes the Straw-Bale Eco-Center project at Ball State University, which involved students and faculty demonstrating sustainable building techniques. It summarizes:
1) The project involved architecture, landscape architecture, and natural resources students who constructed the first load-bearing straw bale building in the region as a teaching facility.
2) Phase I resulted in the building's construction and a LEED Gold rating, funded by a $10,000 EPA grant. Performance monitoring of energy use and bale moisture is ongoing.
3) Phase II aims to further integrate the building with the landscape through designs awaiting additional funding.
The document provides a summary of the process of building a straw bale home over multiple seasons. It describes laying the foundation, erecting the frame, installing insulation and siding made of straw bales, plastering interior and exterior walls, adding interior finishes like drywall and flooring, and eventually moving into the newly completed home. The building process spanned several seasons and was a significant undertaking involving many steps from site preparation to final details.
Este documento presenta una introducci坦n a la construcci坦n con paja. Explica que la paja es un excelente aislante t辿rmico y material estructural cuando se empaqueta en balas. Describe varios sistemas constructivos como el m辿todo Nebraska, de postes y vigas, y marcos compresivos. Tambi辿n cubre detalles como cimientos, ventanas, cubiertas, y requisitos legales. El objetivo es promover la bioconstrucci坦n con paja como una alternativa ecol坦gica y sostenible.
Cosmo City and will serve as a model for sustainable, community-oriented design. RDP Reconstruction and Development Program
The Schoolhouse South Africa project is a partnership between Cornell Cornell students are researching building techniques, materials, and systems CUSD Cornell University Sustainable Design
University Sustainable Design and Education Africa to design and build an appropriate for the local context to inform the design of a 6,000 square foot SSA Schoolhouse South Africa
early childhood development center in Cosmo City, South Africa. Cornell cr竪che. The project aims to provide critical social infrastructure for Cosmo
students will research sustainable building practices and design the cr竪che, City residents through community engagement
The document discusses different natural building techniques using straw, cob, and light clay. It provides a brief history of straw bale construction in the 1800s Nebraska and describes how straw bales are used to form insulating and durable load-bearing walls. Cob construction is summarized as a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water used to create freeform walls that are structurally stable. Light clay techniques are also outlined as a German tradition of filling wood frames with straw or other materials coated in clay slip.
This document outlines an energy efficient pilot project in Ukraine. It discusses (1) developing energy efficient building concepts and raising awareness, (2) traditional Ukrainian buildings that are naturally efficient, and (3) key strategies for an efficient building envelope including compact design, passive solar gains, high insulation, and minimizing air leakage and heat bridges. The goals are to demonstrate best practices and train local architects and builders on efficient construction techniques.
Built-in furniture offers advantages over freestanding furniture by being less expensive and allowing for more creative interior design with unlimited space. Built-in furniture can be part of the interior architecture. Straw bale construction uses bales of straw as an insulative building material stacked like blocks. It provides economic and environmental benefits but has challenges with moisture and permitting. Structurally, it can be load-bearing or use a post and beam frame, and testing has shown straw bale walls outperform standard wood frame walls in terms of fire resistance and strength.
This document describes the Straw-Bale Eco-Center project at Ball State University, which involved students and faculty demonstrating sustainable building techniques. It summarizes:
1) The project involved architecture, landscape architecture, and natural resources students who constructed the first load-bearing straw bale building in the region as a teaching facility.
2) Phase I resulted in the building's construction and a LEED Gold rating, funded by a $10,000 EPA grant. Performance monitoring of energy use and bale moisture is ongoing.
3) Phase II aims to further integrate the building with the landscape through designs awaiting additional funding.
The document provides a summary of the process of building a straw bale home over multiple seasons. It describes laying the foundation, erecting the frame, installing insulation and siding made of straw bales, plastering interior and exterior walls, adding interior finishes like drywall and flooring, and eventually moving into the newly completed home. The building process spanned several seasons and was a significant undertaking involving many steps from site preparation to final details.
Este documento presenta una introducci坦n a la construcci坦n con paja. Explica que la paja es un excelente aislante t辿rmico y material estructural cuando se empaqueta en balas. Describe varios sistemas constructivos como el m辿todo Nebraska, de postes y vigas, y marcos compresivos. Tambi辿n cubre detalles como cimientos, ventanas, cubiertas, y requisitos legales. El objetivo es promover la bioconstrucci坦n con paja como una alternativa ecol坦gica y sostenible.
Cosmo City and will serve as a model for sustainable, community-oriented design. RDP Reconstruction and Development Program
The Schoolhouse South Africa project is a partnership between Cornell Cornell students are researching building techniques, materials, and systems CUSD Cornell University Sustainable Design
University Sustainable Design and Education Africa to design and build an appropriate for the local context to inform the design of a 6,000 square foot SSA Schoolhouse South Africa
early childhood development center in Cosmo City, South Africa. Cornell cr竪che. The project aims to provide critical social infrastructure for Cosmo
students will research sustainable building practices and design the cr竪che, City residents through community engagement
The document discusses different natural building techniques using straw, cob, and light clay. It provides a brief history of straw bale construction in the 1800s Nebraska and describes how straw bales are used to form insulating and durable load-bearing walls. Cob construction is summarized as a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water used to create freeform walls that are structurally stable. Light clay techniques are also outlined as a German tradition of filling wood frames with straw or other materials coated in clay slip.
This document outlines an energy efficient pilot project in Ukraine. It discusses (1) developing energy efficient building concepts and raising awareness, (2) traditional Ukrainian buildings that are naturally efficient, and (3) key strategies for an efficient building envelope including compact design, passive solar gains, high insulation, and minimizing air leakage and heat bridges. The goals are to demonstrate best practices and train local architects and builders on efficient construction techniques.