The future of new home development in 2023

and the 5 Sustainable features to Strawbale homes

Staw Bale / Strô bāl hōm / – A Home insulated with Straw bales sometimes weight bearing usually constructed with baled straw from wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice placed into the walls covered by earthen lime stucco.

Now Here are 5 Permaculture Friendly Features a Straw Bale home provides that you maybe didn’t learn from our previous blog about 5 sustainable homes of the future: 

1. BREATHABLE Like Hempcrete and cob, Strawbale homes provide a breathable insulation that stands the test the time and  doesn’t get destroyed by high humidity or high moisture environments. This also creates a cleaner air environment inside the home. 
2. RENEWABLE RESOURCES. Strawbale is a renewable resource that is easier to grow than hay and the exterior is a earth-lime plaster. The house can be entirely made of straw but the framing is where sourcing your wood is important. 
3. FLAME RETARDANT – Not only do straw bale homes provide excellent insulation and thermal mass, it also creates an excellent flame retardant home. 3X MORE FLAME RESISTANCE THAN CONVENTIONAL HOMES. 
4. NET ZERO  – The Exterior earth plaster requires lime to create the needing waterproofing effect among other things and in order for the Lime to cure it pulls CO2 from the environment and stores it in the walls similar to hempcrete. 
5. UPGRADED LIVING EXPERIENCE. There is a grounding and heighten energy that one feels when in the presence of a home that is made of renewable, recyclable, and reusable resources. This overwhelming calming and homey sensation arises when on gets to be inside whether it a strawbale, Earthship or another “earth-made” house.

As you can see Strawbale homes live up to the sustainability hype it has been given and these permaculture friendly features should be required in new home development. And maybe you are in the process of designing your dream home and strawbale design is now on your list.