Fast facts about building with bales

Wednesday, April 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Straw is the cellulose tubes (stalks) left after grain is harvested. It's been used for centuries by builders who recognized its structural integrity. It's currently undergoing a renaissance as a practical, efficient and affordable building material.

* TYPES OF STRAW: Wheat, oat, barley, rice, rye and flax are all recommended for bale walls.

* AVAILABILITY: It's estimated that there's enough straw left after all major grains are harvested in the United States to build between 4 million and 5 million, 2,000-square-foot houses annually. That's nearly four times the number of houses currently being built.

* COST: A 2,000-square-foot straw bale home needs about 300 standard, three-wire bales costing about $1,000. Cost per square foot can range from $5 up. The industry standard is $45 to $50 for a conventional house.

* EFFICIENCY: Because bales can be up to 2 feet thick, a straw bale wall has extremely high thermal resistance, (R-50) providing effective insulation against extreme cold and heat, resulting in lower cooling and heating costs than conventional homes.

* INFORMATION FOR RESOURCES AND FUTURE WORKSHOPS: UNLV Environmental Studies Program, 895-4438, or Jan McAdams, 598-5090.

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