Why Straw Bale Construction?

Carbon sequestration

Renewable building material sourced locally

Drastically cuts energy use

With the addition of solar power, or even the design to add later, your home can easily become a NetZero home, even feeding electricity back into the community grid.

Straw is a readily available renewable resource that regenerates annually, and can be sourced locally. This kind of home holds heat and cool, but “breathes,” naturally circulating air without losing the desired temperature inside.

Like a deer is able to stay warm all year, a straw bale home holds heat. The hair of a deer’s coat is hollow, and holds air, like the individual shafts of straw. Living in one of these homes is an unparalleled experience, some would say a spiritually aligned way to live in harmony with Nature.

PASSIVE SOLAR

“Idaho home builder is using low cost techniques to save his clients thousands of dollars on their home utility expenses. Mark "Ron" Hixson with Earthcraft Construction discusses using passive solar to heat the home.”
From BuildingConservative.com

Custom Design

Many of the design/build homes EarthCraft has created can be re-imagined and built with straw bale.

You can trust that the necessary adjustments will be made architecturally, providing you the look and feel of any of these styles. With the added benefit of the natural living environment day in and day out.

Cost Savings

The quality of insulation in a straw bale home is very effective, keeping energy costs down. Due to the natural elements used in the building process, straw bale homes are considered one of the healthiest home options we have come across. The walls are coated with earthen plaster, creating an environment to live in that feels and smells wonderful. There is no off-gassing of volatile-organic-compounds, common to newly built homes.

One way we can help you cut costs for this home type is in the labor. Ask us about hosting a straw bale workshop for your project.