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Thermally-efficient home made of Straw bales in Nebraska, US

Published: 04-Aug-2010

Clarke and Mary Kay Nelson's thermally-efficient home at Plum Creek Canyon in Nebraska, US, which is made of straw bales, is being considered as another example of straw as a viable building material.

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The two-story structure is spread over 2,100 square feet and is painted in suede over stucco that was applied to the bales of wheat straw. The straw was unrolled and cut to 18-inch thick specification to form the exterior walls, which are self-insulating and protect the house from invasion by rodents. As the layers of straw were constructed, rebar was driven downward into the straw for stability. Added stability was obtained by wrapping the straw in steel straps. The straw was encapsulated with concrete, penetrating the straw from three-fourths to a full inch in thickness. It took six months to construct the exterior walls.

The house is also thermally efficient with the radiant floor heat fueled by propane. The thick straw bale walls keep the house cool in summer. Special attention has been paid toward window locations for the movement of air and solar gain. The land on the sides of the home is surrounded by forest. The usage of straw has enabled the house to blend with the landscape.

The upper story of the house is slightly smaller than the ground floor with the ceiling in the main living area being 18 feet tall. Three coats of paint were applied to achieve the blue sky effect of Nebraska on the ceilings. The house also incorporates the use of metalwork with the front door being made of alder wood taken from the Platte and Republican rivers. The front lawn is planted with 3,000 plugs of buffalo grass called Legacy, developed at the University of Nebraska.

Before construction began, a large barn was built to protect the straw from the weather, store other building materials and furnishings, and to provide living accommodation during construction. The barn now serves as a garage. The straw was supplied by Roger D. Olson, a Holdrege-area farmer.

Straw has been under the scanner for quite some time by researchers around the world to test its viability to be used as a construction material. BaleHaus, a house made of straw and hemp, is being tested by researchers at Bath University's BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials, for thermal performance and humidity levels.

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