Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Green construction materials: straw bale

[Marya S. Tipton (sundog]

Thanks to everyone for sending information on green building issues. The 
greenbuilder sourcebook is especially helpful. Also, thanks for the headsup
about waste in roundhouses because at this juncture many people at
Hundredfold are leaning in that direction at this point.
Some refugees from Kosovo recently moved in across the street from us. They
showed me pictures of their house back in their village, which is now just a
burnt out shell. But the walls are still intact and they hope to return soon
to rebuild. Aside from the politics, war and human misery, what struck me
was this: If they can build a structurally sound home with basically no
money and limited resources, why can't we do the same here in America?
Thanks again,
Marya Tipton
Hundredfold Farm
Orrtanna, PA

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>From: "Rob Sandelin" <floriferous [at] email.msn.com>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org>
>Subject: RE: Green construction materials: straw bale
>Date: Wed, Dec 1, 1999, 4:46 AM
>

> There has been a dismal track record in conventionally mortgaged and
> financed cohousing using alternative "green" building methods such as
> strawbale. The banks that provide the loans have not been terrifically
> supportive thus far. If you are going to secure financing, be sure to
> consult with your financial advisors before making any commitments that
> banks will not mortgage. It IS getting better (in some places) but straw
> bale and such are not accepted by permitting agencies in some places. Be
> sure to check that your local building inspector is hip to such things and
> what the requirements are in your area. Some places have pretty intense code
> requirements, others have almost zero, and this is important to know about
> before doing anything yourself at all, even building a construction shed.
>
> Assuming 1) you can get financing, and 2) you can get building permits,
> Straw bale has some great advocates and a search of the world wide web will
> turn up a goodly amount of resources about the particulars of the
> constuction methods. There are some pretty important issues, like getting
> the right kind of straw that is absolutely dry, and keeping it dry until you
> seal it. Wet straw mildews badly and this causes no end of respiratory
> problems for some folks. It would be worth hiring a consultant who has a
> proven track record with straw bale if you go that route.
>
> It has been common over the past 3-4 years that folks have toyed with the
> idea, but then run into so many hardships financing and permitting that
> they...baled on straw houses.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Rob Sandelin
> Northwest Intentional Communties Association
> Building a better society, one neighborhood at a time
>
>
>