(Nan’s Note: Strawbale meets prefab! I love it! It works, and it’s beautiful. Top that! This firm has even achieved Passivhaus standards with this method. A passivhaus can reduce your utility bills by 90% with a tight envelope, lots of insulation and an air exchanger.)
By Bridgette Meinhold
Straw bale construction is both sustainable and remarkably energy efficient, and its organic nature can create some incredibly beautiful homes. But this building technique is not for everyone, nor every climate, and using straw bales in construction requires an almost artisan-like craftsmanship. A prefab company in the UK called ModCell, has taken an innovative approach that merges straw bale construction with prefabricated panels, with an end result that is highly attractive, energy-efficient and very sustainable.
Read more and see pictures of this beautiful and simple building at Inhabitat.
More on strawbale construction.
- Natural Gas Vs Geothermal Energy: Which Is Better For Your Home? - Thing To Be Aware Of
- Beware Greenwashing Advertisements When Buying a New Home
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, that’s actually pretty cool. To be honest, that is not at all what I imagined a “straw bale construction” house to look like. Not bad!
It is way cool, Tara! Strawbales look like regular houses, but it’s when you get inside you see and feel the difference. The window sills are deep, the acoustics are amazing, and there is a soft, warm, cozy feel to them, even if there are large spaces. I am absolutely sold on strawbale after showing several during the USGBC GreenBuilt Tour last spring. You can ask @thegoodhuman. He was a volunteer at two of them.
This Strawbale home could be customized to small commercial solutions such as Coffee shop, convenience store, etc. I think the house can comply and be “Green” certified.