Straw and Hemp Houses To Be Huff-and-Puff Proof Buildings of the Future

July 21st, 2009 by Bryan Nelson

Researchers from the University of Bath will be constructing a “BaleHaus” this summer made from prefabricated straw bale and hemp cladding panels.

The house will be a model for building carbon zero homes of the future. And because straw and hemp efficiently absorb carbon dioxide while they grow, the buildings made from them might even have a negative carbon footprint.

[social_buttons]

The house is meant to be the ultimate green-friendly structure. Straw can be grown locally and, being a byproduct of farming, is renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. Hemp and straw also make good building materials due to their remarkably efficient insulating properties, which means energy needed to keep them cool or heated is minimal. Best of all, they make cheap building materials, and with the money saved due to lowered energy costs, straw and hemp homes are practical as well as efficient.

The two story BaleHaus is to be built on the University of Bath campus and will be made using prefabricated panels consisting of a wooden structural frame infilled with straw bales or hemp and rendered with a breathable lime-based system. The home will be closely monitored for a year after being built for its insulating properties, humidity levels, air tightness and sound insulation qualities.

Studies have already shown the low carbon potential of houses made of hemp. Unlike in the U.S., which is the only industrialized country which still outlaws the production of hemp, the infamous cannabis plant can be grown locally in the U.K., and its use as a building material could bring an economic boost to local agricultural communities.

Some consumers might be reminded of the fairytale, “The Three Little Pigs”, where a big bad wolf easily blows down the straw-made house of one of the pigs, and proceeds to eat him. Though in a world where the big bad wolf is global climate change, it might be straw houses that ultimately save us.

Source: ScienceDaily

Image Credit: Brian Forbes on Flickr under a CC License

Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.

Tags: Agriculture, architecture, cannabis, construction, design, green building, hemp, straw

About the Author

Bryan Nelson has been making up for lost time since finishing his graduate degree in Philosophy by traveling and working to change the world. He has worked with groups like The Sierra Club, Environment America & U.S. PIRG, Environment Oregon & OSPIRG, and Progressive Future on local and national political campaigns. His environmental journalism can be found throughout the web, which also includes regular contributions to MNN.com. Between adventure and activism, he currently can be found doing freelance writing from his home in Hawaii.

John B

Why HEMP? what does hemp do over straw that they are adding it to the building? Straw already is known (and is NOT a fire problem and actually does better than some other materials– its tightly packed so fire doesn’t burn further than the surface.) But what does the hemp add to this? strength isn’t needed…
John B

Why HEMP? what does hemp do over straw that they are adding it to the building? Straw already is known (and is NOT a fire problem and actually does better than some other materials– its tightly packed so fire doesn’t burn further than the surface.) But what does the hemp add to this? strength isn’t needed…
John B

Why HEMP? what does hemp do over straw that they are adding it to the building? Straw already is known (and is NOT a fire problem and actually does better than some other materials– its tightly packed so fire doesn’t burn further than the surface.) But what does the hemp add to this? strength isn’t needed…
libra58

How about the building regulations regarding fire

safety? If there is any doubt about this then no

matter how environmentally friedly it will never

succeed.
maxpower

The reason why you can’t build structures with hemp in the US is because first you start building modest little houses with hemp and before you know it you’re building skyscrapers with opium poppies.
maxpower

The reason why you can’t build structures with hemp in the US is because first you start building modest little houses with hemp and before you know it you’re building skyscrapers with opium poppies.
Walter Ruprecht

African paper houses are also being set up in shanty towns and squatter camps since 1999.

First paper mills to be built out of paper. Ecopaper project building in Capetown, Okavango Delta 8 village Bush mills ( MAPEPA) Zimbabwe built by Social Entrepreneur paper maker, paper educator

Walter Ruprecht. Producing 2 tons of natural and recycled rag and hemp paper per month over 400 indigenous partners,

book artists, would be very happy to grow eco friendly

opportunities to our industry for diversified ideas to

other members of the community members.
Walter Ruprecht

African paper houses are also being set up in shanty towns and squatter camps since 1999.

First paper mills to be built out of paper. Ecopaper project building in Capetown, Okavango Delta 8 village Bush mills ( MAPEPA) Zimbabwe built by Social Entrepreneur paper maker, paper educator

Walter Ruprecht. Producing 2 tons of natural and recycled rag and hemp paper per month over 400 indigenous partners,

book artists, would be very happy to grow eco friendly

opportunities to our industry for diversified ideas to

other members of the community members.
Jared

The hemp will only be used in place of fiberglass insulation? Insulation typically only accounts for about 1/100th of the houses I build (cost-wise). Better than nothing, but not shockingly impressive either. Are they doing anything else “green” with the BaleHaus?
Jared

The hemp will only be used in place of fiberglass insulation? Insulation typically only accounts for about 1/100th of the houses I build (cost-wise). Better than nothing, but not shockingly impressive either. Are they doing anything else “green” with the BaleHaus?