Would you buy a straw bale house?

naturalhomes · Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:08 pm

Naturalhomes is running a vote for October asking, "If I were to invest in an eco-house I would buy a..."

You can vote here... If you were going to buy an eco-house what would you be happy investing your money in? If you vote it would be interesting to know your reasoning. What are you concerned about? Can I get building insurance? Will it go up in value? Can I re-sell it? Will it fall apart?

During September naturalhomes.org ran an ecoVote asking what sort of eco-house construction method would you use to build your eco-house. The results are published here http://naturalhomes.org/sept07ecovote.htm and show that in Europe there is a strong preference for straw bale construction but in the Americas cob and straw bale share 1st place.

Oliver

Thomzo · Post: # 72975Post **Thomzo** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:38 pm

I don't know enough about the different types to actually vote but if I do ever build my own home then I will definitely look at one of these methods.

Zoe

the.fee.fairy · Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:00 pm

i vopted earthship because the ones that i've seen are beautiful and have an amazing amount of character. I also like the idea of being completely off-grid.

I'm in love with Earthships - they are what made me want to be self sufficient in the first place.

Martin · Post: # 73009Post **Martin** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:44 pm

straw bale definitely - and one day, I will!

ina · Post: # 73021Post **ina** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:57 pm

Same as Zoe - don't know enough about it, but would look into it if I ever had the money...

mrsflibble · Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:46 pm

I love straw bale, earthbag and cordwood; but i chose earthbag as they're just so funky as well as being ecofriendly.

Eigon · Post: # 73273Post **Eigon** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 2:57 pm

I want one of the whisky barrel houses they have at Findhorn in Scotland. This is the really huge barrels that the whisky is aged in.
I just have a thing about living in a round house, with a cute conical roof.

Second choice would be a straw-bale house.

womble · Post: # 73280Post **womble** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:54 pm

i voted earthship as the ones i've seen online are beautiful

xx

Thomzo · Post: # 73282Post **Thomzo** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:58 pm

I'd love a house like the hobbit homes in Lord of the Rings.

Zoe

mybarnconversion · Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:32 pm

I would buy any of those so long as they were well built, effective and efficient.

Jack · Post: # 73289Post **Jack** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:24 pm

Gidday

Hey the whisky barrel house sounds pretty good, especially if the barrels are all full with taps in them.

But seriously, I would go for either a cobb or adobe. Not sure of the difference but cobb was a traditional type of house in this area used by our early settlers.

the.fee.fairy · Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:31 am

The whisky barrel house sounds brilliant!!!
Does it smell though?

Sounds a bit like a monolithic dome -they look like nice houses too.

Jarmara · Post: # 73444Post **Jarmara** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:14 pm

I love cobb houses and dream of building my own one day.

Eigon · Post: # 73530Post **Eigon** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:49 pm

I have a feeling there might be a slight aroma of whisky from the wood!

A hobbit hole would be fun, too - those round doors are wonderful. (A pity they all had to be demolished after the filming).

frozenthunderbolt · Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:41 pm

earthship, cob, rammed earth/adobe or earthbag. while some people may have good results from them i have reservations about their durability. rammed earth or earthbag with adobe linseed washed cover would be my NO1 preferance. if it can be built semi subteranian all the better. earth sheltered homes are brilliant and can be excellent solar heated/cooled/powered homes