I returned yesterday from the countryside of Portogruaro (VE) where it took place at the Center for Permaculture The Boa course on building straw bale homes, wood, lime and clay.
The course lasted two days and was theoretically, the aim was to give an overview of the topic for those who had an idea to build a House like that.
Straw bale houses, wood, lime and clay are called in many different ways with vague terms like eco-label, bio, sustainable: in the end though it is concretely of homes "in planned saving".

These houses are not a bucolic charm: are homes that, If done knowingly, have a project behind which aims at optimizing energy use, especially that provided free of charge from the land: solar energy, wind power, thermal, trying not to waste unnecessarily.

If you build from foundations, These houses should for example:

– be positioned in such a way as to maximise the angle of the Sun's rays, considering the seasons, to be heated (passive solar house is named);
– possibly, through goods manufactured in Windows that you can attach to your House (they are often called bioclimatic greenhouses) leverage the influence of heat to heat the home or to create a vegetable garden heated.
– create a heating system that is as well researched as possible (example: a thermal heat for cooking kitchen wood which creates, for hot water laundry service, health and whose dishwasher hoses, passing in the walls, heat directly the House).

These houses are not who knows how much cheaper than a conventional House: the fact is that you can save if some parts are made in self and if you make a good project for home heating. We say that is a House that can cost a 15-20% in less than a conventional, who then will (If done well) ineffective management and maintenance costs.
The straw bales in itself doesn't cost much, but in choosing you consider that you will have to buy from some farmer and that you recognize the right price to the job that he did, collecting the straw, creating the bales and which we store in a dry place in a haystack.

Straw houses are built with natural materials, more breathable than. Interesting thing: often there is concern that the home is protected from humidity, but the humidity is especially created by the life inside the home. I.e., If the House is built with materials and techniques that make it look like a plastic bag, inside you will create condensation and moisture will produce mold etc..

The other important thing: Choose the designer and the company that probably will have to carry out work. Many architects or engineers have no specific training on houses in straw, simply follow the market and often improvise.
So you have to make sure that the designer has a real knowledge of materials, I've done various courses, I've already built many houses made of straw and that these are actually being made to rule. Some architects have launched in organizing courses on thatched houses after having just read some books. Attention, Therefore.
The same goes for construction companies: These work with concrete and then act with that mindset. Also working to hurry, to finish early jobs. The realization of a project should be followed, You should review the work of the firm (Although by law in the pipeline nor the customer may enter). And anyway, what you will never want to check out if you don't know how to build a House of straw?? Therefore, If you would like to join this adventure, additional first courses to learn theoretical and practical level, and how you have to build a House like. You will learn both what needs to be done but also, no less important aspect, What should be avoided!
Construction mistakes might create energy efficiency problems or they might let you rot the straw bales.

In conclusion: build a House of straw is an extra effort compared to build or buy a conventional House.
You have to have pretty clear ideas, patience and trust professionals whose experience in thatched cottages is truly certain and verifiable.

Stefano Antonelli