- - The original note follows - -
Newsgroups: alt.architecture
Path:
psuvm!news.cac.psu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!ny
x!tmcintyr
From: tmcintyr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ()
Subject: hay bale construction
Message-ID: <1993Oct20.020151.10792@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
of Denver for the Denver community. The University has neither
control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Sender: usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (netnews admin account)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 93 02:01:51 GMT
Lines: 66
Found and old clipping on this method:
"The technique for building a straw house is ridiculously simple.
A basic 2,000 sq.-foot house requires about 300 standard, three
wire bales of straw at a cost of around $1,000. The bales are
skewered onto steel beams, like giant shiskabobs stuck in the
ground. After wiring and plumbing, the walls are then sealed
and finished like a wood frame house. Any sort of exterior is
possible, including shingles.
"The method is cheaper than its wood-frame conterpart - by
15 to 20 percent on average, sometimes by more than half.
One do it yourself, three bedroom house in Arizona cost
about $10,000.
"The buildings are quit (probably the quitest house you'll
eever live in,' said Alan Lurie, vice president of the
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association),highly energy
effecient, offering 2 and a half times the insulation of
fiberglass and safe - both water-tight and fire resistant
if properly sealed.
"Probably the biggest drawback to the concept is its
design limitations. A house framed only with straw cannot
be more than one story. Ceiling height is limited to 8 or
10 feet. Ans walls cannot run more than25 to 30 feet with-
out another post or support wall.
"Because of the height limit and unusual thickness of the
walls (about 18 inches, more than twice what's normal) straw
houses lend themselves to a kind of Pueblo-style design. This
explains their popularity in the Southwest. But it also gives
them an earthy, utilitarian style that might intrigue ecology
minded pople in other regions of the country.
"A second enviromental benifit to straw houses, beyond the
protection of trees, is their potential for helping cut down
air pollution. Much of the straw left now after each year's
grain and seed harvest is burned.
"There may be new followers in Oregon soon................
Out On Bale (un)Ltd., the Arizona firm that has popularized
straw homes,is comming to Portland" -deleted time and
place (was at Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus)
and I (the poster) didnt make it to demonstration...:(
"The primary challenge in constructing a straw house is
getting a building permit. In Arizona building officials
were skeptical until they had been fully informed. And even
then they tend to be very wary. Obviuosly so is the timber i
industry" <----- ;)
-------------------------------------------------------
OK thats the meat of the article I clipped from The
Oregonian (Portland.OR daily)...the author is
Todd Oppenheimer of southwest Portland who writes on
enviromental affairs...the story ran in the editorial
section and was printed during the Forest Conference
Summit in Portland at what I think was the early part
of this year...so its pretty fresh and the players
named should still be active in their endeavors..
I totally forgot about the clipping till it was brought u
in this newsgroup...for which I thank you..How do we
contact this Out On Bale (un)Ltd company in Arizona?
If I get up to pdx I'll try the college mentioned for
any info...
(c) ? -yeah I hoped I copied it right...filch city
typings not my bag...you'll live...
Newsgroups: alt.architecture
Path:
psuvm!news.cac.psu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!pipex!uunet!mnemosyne.cs.du.edu!ny
x!tmcintyr
From: tmcintyr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ()
Subject: hay bale construction
Message-ID: <1993Oct20.020151.10792@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
of Denver for the Denver community. The University has neither
control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Sender: usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (netnews admin account)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 93 02:01:51 GMT
Lines: 66
Found and old clipping on this method:
"The technique for building a straw house is ridiculously simple.
A basic 2,000 sq.-foot house requires about 300 standard, three
wire bales of straw at a cost of around $1,000. The bales are
skewered onto steel beams, like giant shiskabobs stuck in the
ground. After wiring and plumbing, the walls are then sealed
and finished like a wood frame house. Any sort of exterior is
possible, including shingles.
"The method is cheaper than its wood-frame conterpart - by
15 to 20 percent on average, sometimes by more than half.
One do it yourself, three bedroom house in Arizona cost
about $10,000.
"The buildings are quit (probably the quitest house you'll
eever live in,' said Alan Lurie, vice president of the
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association),highly energy
effecient, offering 2 and a half times the insulation of
fiberglass and safe - both water-tight and fire resistant
if properly sealed.
"Probably the biggest drawback to the concept is its
design limitations. A house framed only with straw cannot
be more than one story. Ceiling height is limited to 8 or
10 feet. Ans walls cannot run more than25 to 30 feet with-
out another post or support wall.
"Because of the height limit and unusual thickness of the
walls (about 18 inches, more than twice what's normal) straw
houses lend themselves to a kind of Pueblo-style design. This
explains their popularity in the Southwest. But it also gives
them an earthy, utilitarian style that might intrigue ecology
minded pople in other regions of the country.
"A second enviromental benifit to straw houses, beyond the
protection of trees, is their potential for helping cut down
air pollution. Much of the straw left now after each year's
grain and seed harvest is burned.
"There may be new followers in Oregon soon................
Out On Bale (un)Ltd., the Arizona firm that has popularized
straw homes,is comming to Portland" -deleted time and
place (was at Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus)
and I (the poster) didnt make it to demonstration...:(
"The primary challenge in constructing a straw house is
getting a building permit. In Arizona building officials
were skeptical until they had been fully informed. And even
then they tend to be very wary. Obviuosly so is the timber i
industry" <----- ;)
-------------------------------------------------------
OK thats the meat of the article I clipped from The
Oregonian (Portland.OR daily)...the author is
Todd Oppenheimer of southwest Portland who writes on
enviromental affairs...the story ran in the editorial
section and was printed during the Forest Conference
Summit in Portland at what I think was the early part
of this year...so its pretty fresh and the players
named should still be active in their endeavors..
I totally forgot about the clipping till it was brought u
in this newsgroup...for which I thank you..How do we
contact this Out On Bale (un)Ltd company in Arizona?
If I get up to pdx I'll try the college mentioned for
any info...
(c) ? -yeah I hoped I copied it right...filch city
typings not my bag...you'll live...