What are the advantages of building a straw bale house?
• Cost – Depending upon what fixtures go into the building, costs run anywhere from $5 to well over $100 a square foot. In general though, you could probably build a straw bale for about the same cost as a cordwood home. Typically the only part of the house that is different from either building method is the walls. Costs vary depending upon whose labor you use (yours vs. paid labor), windows, doors, fixtures, etc. The more you can do yourself the less it will cost out of pocket. • Energy Efficiency – Straw bale walls provide excellent R values of about R-28 (From The Environmental Building News). Plastering the interior wall of a straw bale house adds some thermal mass as well. Both superior insulation and thermal mass give you a good start at a very energy efficient house. Just make sure to insulate the heck out of your roof to match the efficiency of your walls. • Ecology Friendly – Straw is readily available and has little if any impact on the well being of Mother Earth. Using a na
