[Strawbale] Locking bales in place to walls

[Frank Tettemer]

Joyce Coppinger wrote:
> If the bale buildings in Nebraska on which the current revival of strawbale
> is based can survive 100 years in existence without polystyrene foam to
> "lock bales to the walls" and fill air voids, surely we can build a
> strawbale building in the current century without using toxic products, and
> still attain the same level of quality and durability as others have done
> for centuries. 
>
> Just a thought!
>
> Joyce
It's an excellent thought, Joyce. 

I would hope that for most of us on this list, that it would be more 
than a thought.
I hold out Joyce's statement as representing
 >the whole point and purpose< in building with straw,
and all the associated supporting structural members
as well as "green" finishing materials.

Yes, I use petro chemicals where their use greatly improves issues 
around foundation and moisture. i.e.,
I can easily rationalize pouring a floor over Blue SM insulating board, 
here in a bitter-cold climate, for example.
The extensive, and long-term savings in heating fuel makes the embodied 
energy of the foam material, balance in a choice like that.
The placement, under a layer of vapour barrier, and flashed tightly at 
the building's perimeter, put that material in a relatively safe place, 
protecting the occupants as well as the external environment from any 
major off-gassing issues.

Sound like rationalization to you?  Well, it is, to me, too. 
But it is an example of the myriad of choices we make in designing a 
building that will be sustainable, now and one hundred years from now.

I feel that it's very important to visualize as far into the future as 
we can, in all aspects of our building endeavors.
We have the opportunity, with every new building project, to make a 
significant difference in our future.

Frank Tettemer
Living Sol ~ Building & Design
Killaloe, ON
www.livingsol.com