University of Bath Will Build Energy Efficient “BaleHaus”
Posted on: July 21st, 2009 by Jenson BrayshawA research team at the University of Bath will be constructing a prototype for an energy efficient home made solely from straw bale and hemp. The two story house is set to be built this summer and will be monitored for a year.
The house is intended to be the newest, most energy efficient structure available. Since straw and hemp effectively absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, researches are even predicting that the house will actually leave a negative carbon footprint. The straw and hemp will be grown locally and are known for having insulating properties which will decrease the amount of energy needed to keep the houses heated or cool.
Since straw and hemp make for cheap building materials and contribute to reduced energy costs, these homes will be affordable as well as efficient. Additionally, since cannabis can be legally grown in the UK, the use of hemp as a building material may also boost local agricultural communities in a recession crippled economy.
The first prototype, named the BaleHaus, is set to be built on the University of Bath campus. BaleHaus will be built using a wooden structural frame insulated with straw bales or hemp and then given a lime based structure. The house will then be closely monitored for the period of one year to determine its insulating properties, humidity levels, air tightness and acoustics.
