Innovation in straw bale building

BaleHaus is an innovative two-storey straw building, constructed on campus by our researchers to test whether straw can be a low-carbon alternative to conventional construction materials.

Straw offers the perfect material for environmentally friendly construction due to its renewable nature. It is a material that absorbs CO2 as it grows and can be harvested locally to developments.

Also, due to its high insulating properties, houses made of straw need almost no conventional heating, keeping costs low and minimising environmental impact.

Over two years the research team has studied the performance of BaleHaus, carrying out rigorous tests on the building including applying a wind load of around four tonnes and over 100dB of white noise. The research has established that the building lives up to expectations, maintaining heat through very cold winters, staying dry and producing good sound insulation.

More straw homes

Since the construction of our BaleHaus, over 200 environmentally friendly straw homes have been built, as well as a local school in the city of Bath.

Our researchers are now focusing on the long-term performance and durability of using straw bale in construction with the aim of obtaining accreditation for straw bale housing. This would ensure that homes in the UK made using this innovative technology would be both insurable, and meet industry standards.

Watch a time lapse video of the construction of BaleHaus