Straw Bale Construction A Path to Sustainability Julie Birdwell, New Prairie Construction Co.

Building with Straw Energy Efficient Energy Efficient Structurally Superior Structurally Superior Community Building and Personal Aesthetics Community Building and Personal Aesthetics

Energy Efficiency Low Embodied Energy of Straw Low Embodied Energy of Straw –Uses an agricultural waste product –Renewable as next year’s grain crop High “R” Value (R 34 –R 55) in walls High “R” Value (R 34 –R 55) in walls

Healthy Material Choices Wall package contains no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) Wall package contains no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) Earthen plasters for interior finishes Earthen plasters for interior finishes –Reduces construction waste & hauling –Low embodied energy ingredients –Painting not required Stucco/Plaster serves as masonry mass Stucco/Plaster serves as masonry mass

Structural Integrity Straw bale houses more earthquake resistant Straw bale houses more earthquake resistant Two hour fire wall Two hour fire wall Exceptionally strong Exceptionally strong –100 lbs/lf lateral force load strength* –4000 lbs/lf compressive load strength* *when finished with cement stucco

Community Benefits “High Tech” expertise not required “High Tech” expertise not required Encourages community building through participation in building Encourages community building through participation in building Supports local agriculture Supports local agriculture Economical Economical –1 straw bale = insulation + sheathing + studs + drywall –$1/sqf straw bale; $3.41/sqf standard construction with same R-value

Aesthetics Design flexibility Design flexibility –Creativity in construction –Biomorphic to angular/modern

Urbana Straw Bale “Green” Features Rastra Foundation Walls (R-34, 85% recycled styrofoam ICF) Rastra Foundation Walls (R-34, 85% recycled styrofoam ICF) Rye Straw Bales from Organic Farmer Rye Straw Bales from Organic Farmer

Cellulose Ceiling Insulation (recycled newspaper) Cellulose Ceiling Insulation (recycled newspaper) Reclaimed Maple Great Room Floor Reclaimed Maple Great Room Floor

Bamboo Floors in Bedrooms Bamboo Floors in Bedrooms Reclaimed Yellow Pine Jambs, Interior Doors, and Trim Reclaimed Yellow Pine Jambs, Interior Doors, and Trim Reclaimed Slate Countertops Reclaimed Slate Countertops

Recycled Porch Flooring Recycled Porch Flooring High Efficiency Gas Forced Air Furnace High Efficiency Gas Forced Air Furnace Corn Stove- lower level; Wood Stove- first floor Corn Stove- lower level; Wood Stove- first floor Low E glass for windows/skylights Low E glass for windows/skylights

Engineered Lumber Bearing Beams and Floor Joists Engineered Lumber Bearing Beams and Floor Joists Trussed Roof System Trussed Roof System

Natural Paints- 1 st floor interior Natural Paints- 1 st floor interior Outdoor Kitchen Outdoor Kitchen Outdoor Clothes Line Outdoor Clothes Line