Energy efficient Straw Bale Housing Technology Transfer Project, China

Architect: Dan Smith & Associates, Material: Straw Bale

The seeds of straw bale construction in Northern China were sown in a flight journey to Mongolia. Recognising the immense potential of straw bale construction for its energy efficiency, Scott Christianson, then director Advent Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) got in touch with Dan Smith & Associates.

Northern China is home to 160 million people, mostly rural. The region largely has sub-arctic climate with cross border Siberian gales and upto 30 degree Celsius winter temperature. Burnt clay bricks are banned in China and an alternative construction material had to be found. Straw on the other hand is widely available from the rice fields in the region. It is mostly an agricultural waste that is sometimes even disposed of by burning in the fields. Straw bales are proven construction material with exceptional energy efficiency. It can replace brick and increase energy efficiency, thus bringing down coal consumption both for heating and in brick manufacturing. The environmental, health and economic benefits of using straw bale for constructing houses are more than evident.

The project took off in 1999 with the participation of middle and high-level government offices of the county. As many as 25 houses were built in the first year. The house design that evolved through a largely participative process keeping peoples’ aspirations in mind was a combination of brick and straw bale in a post beam infill construction. Foundations were conventional as in brick homes but with greater insulation and impermeability. The roof was either in timber or steel trusses covered in corrugated sheets. Straw bales replaced two-thirds of the bricks compared to conventional homes. The house was plastered in a cement lime render. The Chinese government has played a dynamic role and is now taking a lead in the wider promotion of this technique.