This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31156579
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hey, fancy buying a straw house? | Hey, fancy buying a straw house? |
| (12 days later) | |
| The first straw houses in the UK to be offered on the open market are on sale. | The first straw houses in the UK to be offered on the open market are on sale. |
| Though straw walls might be most readily linked to a story of pigs making questionable construction choices, the team behind these homes says the material could help to sustainably meet housing demand. | Though straw walls might be most readily linked to a story of pigs making questionable construction choices, the team behind these homes says the material could help to sustainably meet housing demand. |
| The homes are the result of an engineering research project led by the University of Bath. | The homes are the result of an engineering research project led by the University of Bath. |
| The researchers worked with specialist architectural firm Modcell. | The researchers worked with specialist architectural firm Modcell. |
| The team says this development should move building with straw from a niche technique for the ecologically minded to the wider market. | The team says this development should move building with straw from a niche technique for the ecologically minded to the wider market. |
| The houses, on a street of traditional brick-built homes in Bristol, are clad in brick to fit in with the surroundings. But their prefabricated walls are timber framed, filled with straw bales and encased in wooden boards. | The houses, on a street of traditional brick-built homes in Bristol, are clad in brick to fit in with the surroundings. But their prefabricated walls are timber framed, filled with straw bales and encased in wooden boards. |
| Prof Pete Walker from the University of Bath, who led the project to develop and test this construction method, told BBC News: "I think there's a lot of misconception about using straw - stories about the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, concerns about fire resistance." | Prof Pete Walker from the University of Bath, who led the project to develop and test this construction method, told BBC News: "I think there's a lot of misconception about using straw - stories about the three little pigs and the big bad wolf, concerns about fire resistance." |
| As part of this EU-funded project, Prof Walker and his colleagues have systematically tested and refined the technology - including testing its structural and weight-bearing properties, and its thermal insulation. | As part of this EU-funded project, Prof Walker and his colleagues have systematically tested and refined the technology - including testing its structural and weight-bearing properties, and its thermal insulation. |
| "Our testing over a number of years, and our research has demonstrated that it is a robust and safe form of construction." | "Our testing over a number of years, and our research has demonstrated that it is a robust and safe form of construction." |
| He added that, since straw absorbs carbon dioxide as is grows, using it as a building material actually "locks carbon into the walls" of a building. | He added that, since straw absorbs carbon dioxide as is grows, using it as a building material actually "locks carbon into the walls" of a building. |
| Building with straw - the figures | Building with straw - the figures |
| "They're also a very efficient insulator, so they should reduce energy bills by as much as 90% compared to other houses around this site," Prof Walker added. | "They're also a very efficient insulator, so they should reduce energy bills by as much as 90% compared to other houses around this site," Prof Walker added. |
| Although these are not the first homes in the UK to be built using straw bales, they are the first to be built for any buyer on the open market. | Although these are not the first homes in the UK to be built using straw bales, they are the first to be built for any buyer on the open market. |
| Craig White, director of Modcell, the design firm involved in the project, explained: "Previously, you'd have a client in place, they knew they wanted a straw bale construction, and they would commission us to deliver that. | |
| "These are the first ones being built speculatively, for the open market," he told the BBC. | "These are the first ones being built speculatively, for the open market," he told the BBC. |
| "I think it's a very exciting time for this building technology. | "I think it's a very exciting time for this building technology. |
| "And the more we can build out of renewable materials like straw and timber, the less carbon will be in the atmosphere, so we can reduce climate change effects." | "And the more we can build out of renewable materials like straw and timber, the less carbon will be in the atmosphere, so we can reduce climate change effects." |