This week, the first straw bale houses in the U.K. to be sold on the open market went up for sale in the Bristol area (south west England.) The homes are the result of an engineering research project led by the University of Bath. Seven houses have been constructed to date.
The houses are located on a street alongside traditional brick-built homes in the city of Bristol. The houses are not quite the flimsy thatched constructions of fairy tales, but they do contain a lot of straw. The houses are clad in brick; however, their prefabricated walls are timber framed, filled with straw bales and encased in wooden boards. Around seven tonnes of straw is required to build a three-bedroom house with the new process.
The Belfast Telegraph notes that initial concerns from people about living in a “straw house” relate to fire-resistance and weather-resistance. The scientists behind the project state that neither of these concerns are a problem, and that fire tests have been carried out. The researchers hope that the houses will be more affordable, due to lower insulation costs, and better for the environment, given that straw is a recycled material.
The development came about through a European Union initiative aimed at promoting energy saving initiatives. The development was over seen by Professor Pete Walker from the University of Bath. The scientist told BBC News that the properties have very good insulation.
Professor Walker said: “Our testing over a number of years, and our research has demonstrated that it is a robust and safe form of construction.”
Straw is the leftover stalks from cereal crops, after the grain and chaff have been removed. It is normally used as animal bedding. In terms of environmental conservation, around four million tonnes of this leftover straw is produced every year by U.K. agriculture. It is also hoped that the use of straw leads to lower energy bills due to the increased insulation.
