Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Project
Business Plan
including:
The Indigo Nature Haven
Purely Indigo
&
Gwynadd :
A “Green Friendly” Development
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................5
1.1 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................6
1.2 OBJECTIVES...................................................................................................................6
1.3 MISSION.......................................................................................................................7
1.4 KEYS TO SUCCESS..........................................................................................................7
2 MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................7
2.1 ORGANIZATION CHART....................................................................................................7
2.2 KEY ADVISORY PERSONNEL.............................................................................................9
2.3 TEAM ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................9
2.4 TEAM GOALS................................................................................................................9
3 COMPANY .....................................................................................................................9
3.1.1 Client History.....................................................................................................9
3.2 TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW...............................................................................................10
3.3 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..............................................................................................11
4 OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................11
4.1 SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES..............................................................................................11
4.2 SALES ANALYSIS YEAR MID-2007- EARLY 2008 ...........................................................12
4.2.1 Years 2008 and beyond.....................................................................................12
4.3 REVENUE PROJECTIONS.................................................................................................13
4.4 ADVANTAGES...............................................................................................................14
4.4.1 Risks..................................................................................................................14
5 LOCATION...................................................................................................................14
DEMOGRAPHICS.................................................................................................................15
6 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT..............................................................................16
6.1 MARKETING................................................................................................................16
7 OTHER AREA CENTERS..........................................................................................17
7.1 FUTURE PROMISING OPPORTUNITIES................................................................................20
8 APPENDIX....................................................................................................................21
8.1 APPENDIX A: GREEN TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW................................................................21
8.2 APPENDIX B : KABBALAH............................................................................................22
8.2.1 What is Hermetic Kabbalah? ..........................................................................23
8.2.2 How old is Kabbalah? .....................................................................................24
8.3 APPENDIX C: WIND TURBINE TECHNOLOGY....................................................................24
8.4 APPENDIX D: HOUSE OF STRAW.....................................................................................27
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Business Plan
8.4.1 Introduction......................................................................................................28
8.4.2 Straw-Bale Construction..................................................................................29
8.4.3 The Navajo Project...........................................................................................31
8.4.4 Other Contemporary Straw-Bale Homes.........................................................43
8.4.5 Affordability......................................................................................................44
8.4.6 Frequently Asked Questions About Straw-Bale................................................47
8.4.7 Resources..........................................................................................................49
8.5 APPENDIX E: REASEARCH & DEVELOPMENT : SPIRULINA PLATENSIS..................................50
8.5.1 Nucleic Acid Safety Research...........................................................................52
9 CONCLUSION:............................................................................................................53
Contact information:
1 Executive Summary
The Indigo Nature Haven is an experimental self-sustaining community and retreat center
powered by wind turbine and solar technology. It will be set-up primarily for young
adults who have been labeled as ADD and ADHD by society. The parent company,
Purely Indigo will produce Eco-fuels, water purification systems and eventually high-
protein, low cost, natural food substitutes to be used here and in third world countries.
Gywnadd will be the name of the completed community where The Indigo Nature Haven
retreat center and Purely Indigo’s, headquarters and laboratory and some production
fields will be located. This will be the main community, located in Herkimer County on
aproximately 327 continuous acres (an additional 175 acres on the property border is
available), with a small area of the property listed as a Historic Landmark, (it is my hope
that with the aid of state and federal grants, we will be able to restore this Landmark to its
former beauty, at some point in the near future). This property is a turn key operation and
aside from the “green friendly development”, the doors can be opened immediately for
business. Gywnadd will consist of a limited number of homes built to zero energy and
near zero energy specifications. These homes would be sold without the land rights, much
like a condo format to protect the community’s future interests and the land upon which it
is built. The community will have a small old fashioned “main street”, which will consist
of small stores that will be available in the form of concessions. Purely Indigo eco-fuel
production, all horse boarding and holistic pet food distribution and cottage industries
will be done from this property. This Project can be accomplished with just the 327 acres
tract but in the future could be expanded into other areas greatly enhancing projections
and creating unlimited production possibilities.
This will be a back to nature and balance approach bringing young adults and animals
into an atmosphere of healing experience, through working with and close to the land.
Gwynadd will be a self-sustaining community in the sense that most of the food produced
will be from the community properties. All energy required to run the community will
come primarily from the afore mentioned wind turbine technology, combined with other
forms of “green” energy.
The community will be located in Herkimer County NY both adjacent to Monticello and
Cooperstown, New York, the Pocono region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Herkimer
County demographically speaking are part of an upcoming region both in terms of prop-
erty values and expanding population as well as state funding support. The property is a
327 +/- acre tract located in an agricultural, residential and recreational open zoned area.
Finally, the idea of having a Historic Landmark on the property will increase public in-
terest and available funding sources. We have approached The Herkimer Historical Soci-
ety with the business plan and we were received with eagerness to help. This property is
located in one of the areas being looked at by the state of NY to expand the rail system to
facilitate the traffic expected when the decision is made as to what Native American Tribe
will control the upcoming casino rights.
1.1 Background
The Indigo Nature Haven Project’s founder is Monica Nathan, Animal Nutrition Special-
ist, Senior Social Science Researcher, Exotic Plant Specialist, B.A., B.S.
Monica’s background is in organic farming, animal nutrition, exotic plant biology, zo-
ology, various levels of management and Social Science Research. Monica is currently
working in conjunction to the National Academy of Engineering in the development of
her design of an efficient low cost water purification system as a possible solution to
clean up the arsenic laden ground water of Bangladesh. Monica has also been working on
a new form of high energy Eco-fuel from a currently unused biomass source. This new
form of fuel could be used in diesel and gasoline engines in current use without petro-
leum additives and without engine modification. Her hobbies are mechanics, quantum
physics and ancient manuscripts. She is also actively involved in helping others find
meaning by empowering them to find their life purpose.
The Indigo Nature Haven team members are experienced, outstanding leaders in the fol-
lowing areas: Business planning, Education, Farm Management, Development and imple-
mentation.
All technologies used in this Community of the future, (“prototype”) will be green tech-
nologies with emphasis on the environment, energy solutions and sustainable housing and
farming practices. For example, a high ratio of the buildings will be straw bale structures
that are energy efficient and earth friendly. Electricity will be generated by means of wind
turbines and solar collector panels.
1.2 Objectives
• Through the skills developed at the center/community people will be equipped to return
to live in their community setting independently.
• Production and manufacture of highly effective low cost water purification systems.
• To create an alternative and inexpensive food source for use in the American mainland
and third world countries.
• Create a resource center for young adults with ADD and ADHD.
1.3 Mission
• To develop and provide products and services that makes a difference in the qual-
ity of life for our community and the world around us.
• To provide an environment that inspires our team to continually grow and experi-
ence an outstanding physical, emotional, fulfilled life.
• Variable sources of income, for example federal and state energy and agricultural
grants, sale of energy to electric company brokers, production of 100% usable
Eco-fuel, creation of a new high protein food substitute, working out a system
exchanging accommodation for manual labor and use of farm land for horse
boarding business and lastly various cottage industries for local commerce.
• Development of a future community of zero energy buildings.
• Revenue from “main street” concession program.
• Leasing to independents with like minded interests.
• Manufacture of a low cost efficient water purification systems.
• Maintaining farmland through sale of energy and sweat equity/barter system.
• Creating a new market in natural and holistic pet foods.
• Creating a learning center to enable visitors to become viable, enlightened cit-
izens.
• Energy grants and rebates through use of green technology.
2 Management
• General Employees:
o Monica Nathan, President - responsible for entire operation. Focus on business
operations, building client relationships, Sales and marketing, new business de-
velopment, technical and project management support.
o Dericka Coady, Senior Manager - responsible for all the daily functions to en-
sure smooth running community/farm/center.
• To maximize our time in the upcoming growth period of center development to minimize
down time.
• Live each day to it’s fullest potential.
• Empower each person who visits the center.
3 Company
The Tree of Light Healing Center located in Hampton, NJ is an educational and spiritu-
al center servicing all people who seek to know more about themselves, their purpose,
and the Universe. Using meditation and stress management techniques the Tree of Light
brings every client/student on a journey that unlocks the doors to the inner psyche that
lead to positive self- image and enhanced relationships with others. Through self- dis-
covery each student/client is able to create positive goals in life and successfully achieve
them.
Washington Pet Shop, Bangor, PA formally of White House Station, NJ William Wilson
Sr.has agreed to act as a consultant and liaison to enable The Indigo Nature Haven to cre-
ate a distribution center for our own private label holistic and natural pet foods as well as
horse feeds. This will result in a wholesale and distribution throughout NY, PA and parts
of NJ as well as retail via The Indigo Nature Haven.
The Indigo Healing Center is designed to teach those interested in understanding the
nature of today’s young adults.
Zeke Jewelers of Woodbridge, NJ, Sale, repair and design of fine jewelry, former busi-
ness associate of Monica Nathan.
Providing a template for self-sustaining farming practices and clean fuel production prac-
tices will greatly enhance the quality of our lives and the lives of our offspring.
4 Objectives
Our short-term plan is to begin:1. Retreat center and Classes set up thru network ( See 2.1
vendors sec.) 2. Horse boarding. 3. Natural and holistic home label pet food distribution
business. 4. Wind Turbine Technology. 5. Eco-fuel production.
These ventures are to start immediately to provide financial sovereignty to the center.
The retreat center will be for accommodations and general subject and optional Kaballah
classes and enable the incoming visitors to reestablish themselves through a greater sense
of self understanding.
1. Wind Turbines are expected to generate a min. of $1000 Pr/ Mth /Per Turbine.
2.Percentage of fifty percent given to Center from profits of visiting teachers and
lecturers and concert performers. (classes from $22.50 to $750.00 per student per class;
lectures from $10.00 to $75.00 per attendee.)
3.Sales of natural and holistic pet foods purchased by the trailer truck at $20 to $25K per
truckload purchased at unlisted wholesale prices (Est. gain: $7,500 to $11,250 PR/LD).
4.Production of Eco-fuel by late summer 2007.
5.Example: 20 horses: current rate of $650 Per/horse Per/Mth. Avg. $13,000 Pr/Mth.
Completion of full scale self-sustaining community by Summer 2008 and the completed
Gwynadd Development by summer 2009. Our goal is to eventually put back approxim-
ately 50% to 60% from receivables of the previous year, to be used for the following R
and D, capital improvements and low risk investments. Grants will be applied for on an
ongoing basis.
Farm Sales incl. Eco-fuels $ 50,000 $1,750,000 $2,300,000 $ 4,700,000 $ 8,500,000 $13,900,000
Farm Subsidies $ 100,000 $ 250,000 $ 250,000 $ 320,000 $ 320,000 $ 420,000
Please Note: These Revenue projections are based on whole year figures not quarterly
figures and are subject to change, with mortgage interest rates, cost fluctuations, etc.
4.4 Advantages
• Expanding demographics.
• Develop a new community of well rounded individuals who will filter into the
surrounding communities as home owners, community leaders, and empowered
citizens.
4.4.1 Risks
The purpose of the multiple and obviously diversified business ventures contained
in this project is to allow for sustainability even through times of recession.
5 Location
Herkimer Co. NY, 327 acres and a Historic Landmark on the property NY. Property val-
ues in Herkimer County have increased approximately 200% in the last 2.5 years and 60
to75% in the last year. Herkimer County is one of the most heavily funded counties in
NY state. Having a Historic Landmark on the property will increase public interest and
available funding sources. We have approached The Herkimer Historical Society with the
business plan and was received with eagerness to help. These two areas are being looked
at by the state of NY to expand the rail system to facilitate the traffic expected when the
decision is made as to what Native American Tribe will control the casino rights.
Demographics
60% of all profits will be rolled back into the company. Out of this income 50% will go into sav-
ings and the balance into and R&D account specifically earmarked for new technology develop-
ment. (see Appendix E)
6.1 Funding
The Indigo Nature Haven intends to obtain start up costs through private mortgage
and /or venture capital funding. In conjunction with pending applications for various
state and federal energy and agricultural grants and philanthropic venture funding.
An escrow account will be set up in the first year to cover the first six to twelve months
expenses.
A percentage of moneys earned and funded to the center will be allocated to a previously
mentioned Annuity Fund to facilitate the monthly expenses of the center and to prevent
financial risk during seasonal lulls.
6.1 Marketing
Advertising will be done through various area specific magazines, as well as through fly-
ers, etc. distributed at the centers and businesses working in conjunction with The Indigo
Nature Haven.
A community outreach program instituted and run solely by The Indigo Nature Haven,
would bring in young people and adults to the center.
The following is list of centers in the area that cater to somewhat similar clientele. We
feel that our center compliments the services offered by these centers, while offering a
line of services that are clearly unique to the area.
Creative therapies
Reflections Bed & Breakfast
1107 Plans Road
Forestburgh, NY 12777
845-796-2554
http://www.reflectionsccta.com
Located on 30 acres in Forest-burgh, Reflections Bed & Breakfast is a country retreat for
individuals or small groups. The grounds include a spring-fed lake for swimming and
fish-ing, sculpture gardens, a tennis court, a sauna and a walking trail. Home-cooked
gourmet meals use produce from the center's organic garden.
Reflections is also the home of The Center for Creative Therapies and the Arts, a retreat
catering to people who want to tap their creativity. The center's professional staff all have
advanced degrees, training and experience in areas such as guided imagery, music ther-
apy, mandala work, reiki, herbal consultations, medicinal plants and art/math and dream-
work.
Classes for the fail include guided imagery and music. Inner Work, the Wisdom of (he
Dream. Reiki. Fibonacci and the Golden Mean, Biue Pond, Pine Forest: A Spa Retreat for
the Rejuve-nation of the Spirit and dreamwork for artists.
The 2003 Spa Finder award winner for Best Small Spa in the USA, New Age Health Spa,
situated on 280 acres adjacent to the Catskill Forest Preserve in Neversink, provides
country-inn style lodging for 72 guests. Patrons enjoy unlimited use of the facilities,
activities and lectures. The Spa has a fully equipped gym, heated indoor and outdoor
pools and an exercise studio. Classes in yoga, tai chi, meditation, pranayama (breathing
techniques) and chi kung are offered.
Spiritual practice takes place in the Cayuga Yoga and Meditation Center. Lined with
Western redwood, the room features a grand stone fireplace, heated floors, and 5’ tall
golden statue of Buddha statue. Participants immerse themselves in the Eastern healing
arts to reduce stress, increase flexibility, enhance mental clarity and improve organ func-
tion. All classes ire suitable for both beginner and mere advanced students of spiritual
practice. Low-fat, vegetarian meals are prepared for guests using ingredients grown in the
Spa's own greenhouse. Some guests may choose to undergo the cleansing juice fasting
program and massages, body wraps and facials are also available.
The spiritual program at New Age Health Spa begins with a classic seated meditation at
sunrise, followed by a three-mile walk through the countryside and a 50-minute yoga
class. The afternoon features instruction in a variety of practices such as Ai Chi, a Japan-
ese form water exercise, Chi Kung, a Chinese discipline lo balance energy and Tai Chi. a
martial art form lo induce relaxation and peace of mind. The day's class schedule con-
cludes with a pre-dinner meditation, which may include breathing exercises, chanting and
guided visualizations.
The Spa additionally presents special yoga weekends featuring renowned guest instruct-
ors.
Over five miles of groomed trails on the property can be used for nature walks, cross-
country skiing or snow shoeing. The “Alpine Tower” presents a challenge for team
building for corporate groups and individuals as they try to scale the five-story tall
wooden structure while tethered to a support team below.
Examples of workshops offered include Feng Shui From The Heart, Relax Your Back,
Connecting With The Inner Body, Finding Peace In An Ever-changing World, Drumming
Away Stress, Psychotherapy And The Spiritual Path, Balancing Past, Present And Future,
Optimizing Digestive And Liver Function With Herbs and Acupuncture.
The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch (est. 1974) is one of eight ashrams founded by
Swami Vishnuevananda for the practice of yoga and the study of yoga. The Ranch, situ-
ated on 77 acres with a pond and nature trails, offers a variety of programs for yoga prac-
tice ranging from a single yoga asana class, a vegetarian meal using organic food from
the on site garden, or a group meditation, to an intensive month-long Yoga Teachers"
Training Course and a work-study program.
Dai Bosatsu Zendo is a Buddhist monastery on 1,400 wooded acres in Lew Beach, over-
looking Beecher Lake, the highest site above sea level in the Catskill Region.
Himalayan Institute
RR1 Box 1127
Honesdale, PA 18431
570-253-5551 ext 3000
800-822-4547
http://www.Himalayanlnstitute.org
clih@himalayaninstilule.org
The Himalayan Institute, located on 400 acres of rolling hills in Honesdale, PA, offers
programs in hatha yoga, meditation, stress reduction, nutrition, spirituality and Eastern
philosophy. Weekend and weeklong classes, month-long self-transformation programs,
longer residential programs, spiritual retreats and custom-designed holistic health ser-
vices are available.
Located on Route 97, Sullivan County's Scenic ByWay, just south of the hamlet of Nar-
rowsburg, Riverlights, a five-bedroom Arts and Craft-style home, occupies eight acres
traversed by Ten Mile River and surrounded by opportunities for hiking, hiking, an-
tiquing, kayaking, canoeing and skiing. Homemade breakfast and daily yoga classes
offered.
• A summer program for younger children to work in nature and live in an un-
scheduled environment suitable for ADD and ADHD children.
• Mail Order Catalog servicing the crafts of the Center.
• Sponsorship program to support community animals.
• Classes in practical application to job related areas
• Self-empowerment and achievement classes.
• Ecofuel research center.
• Create a center networking system.
• Expansion of tiding network already in place.
• Foundation Center
• General store:
o Community grown herbs and natural foods
o Craft Center
o Antique Center
o Amish goods
o Thrift Center
o Sale of rough wood lumber and firewood
o Resale of restored antique cars and farm equipment
o Tea House
o Indigo Natural pet products
o Natural personal products
o Book shop
o Handmade horse equipment
8 Appendix
8.1 Appendix A: Green Technology Overview
Green Technology will be the wave of the future, since our resources are rapidly deplet-
ing. There is a need to develop mew technologies to overcome the coming energy crisis.
The following is reprinted from The Coming Global Oil Crisis (http://www.hubbertpeak.-
com/hubbert/)
M. King Hubbert
October 5th, 1903 -- October 11th, 1989
He was probably the most well known geophysicist in the world to the general public be-
cause of his startling prediction, first made public in 1949 that the fossil fuel era would be
of very short duration. ("Energy from Fossil Fuels, Science")
His prediction in 1956 that U.S. oil production would peak in about 1970 and decline
thereafter was scoffed at then but his analysis has since proved to be remarkably accurate.
On Buzz Ivanhoe's copy of NBS Special Publication 631, p.140-141. M.K. Hubbert,
1982, there is an undated handwritten note:
DR. HUBBERT (in response to remarks by David Nissen - Exxon): Your kind re-
marks with regard to my previous studies of the evolution of the U.S. petroleum industry
are greatly appreciated. However, you suggest that my estimates of the ultimate amounts
of oil to be recovered is questionable for reasons of classification and because I have not
taken into account the effect of the price of oil on ultimate recovery. You mention oil
shale, coal, and the Orinoco heavy oils of Venezuela.
My analyses are based upon the simple fundamental geologic fact that initially there was
only a fixed and finite amount of oil in the ground, and that, as exploitation proceeds, the
amount of oil remaining diminishes monotonically. We do not know how much oil was
present originally or what fraction of this will ultimately be recovered. These are among
the quantities that we are trying to estimate.
Your statement that the fraction of the original oil-in-place that will be recovered is cor-
rect, but the effect may easily be exaggerated. For example, we know how to get oil out
of a reservoir sand, but at what cost? If oil had the price of pharmaceuticals and could be
sold in unlimited quantity, we probably would get it all out except the smell. However
there is a different and more fundamental cost that is independent of the monetary price.
That is the energy cost of exploration and production. So long as oil is used as a source of
energy, when the energy cost of recovering a barrel of oil becomes greater than the en-
ergy content of the oil, production will cease no matter what the monetary price may be.
During the last decade we have very large increases in the monetary price of oil. This has
stimulated an accelerated program of exploratory drilling and a slightly increased rate of
discovery, but the discoveries per foot of exploratory drilling have continuously declined
from an initial rate of about 200 barrels per foot to a present rate of only 8 barrels per
foot.
The origin of this variant can be placed in Renaissance Italy in the last decade of the 15th.
century. It was an amazing decade. In 1492 Christopher Columbus set sail for America.
In that same year the King of Spain expelled all Jews from Spain on pain of death, bring-
ing to an end centuries of Jewish culture in Spain, and causing a huge migration of dis-
possessed Jews through Europe, many of whom were welcomed by the Turkish sultan,
who is reputed to have observed that the King of Spain had enriched Turkey by beggaring
his own country.
At around the same time, at the court of the great banking family of the Medicis in
Florence, Marcelio Ficino had established the Platonic Academy under the patronage of
the Medicis and was translating the works of Plato. A bundle of manuscripts, lost for cen-
turies and dating back to the 1st. and 2nd. centuries A.D. was discovered; this was the
Corpus Hermeticum, a series of documents relatingto Hermes Trimegistus, identical with
the Egyptian god Thoth, god of wisdom. Cosimo de Medici told Ficino to stop translating
Plato and to concentrate on the Corpus instead.
At the time it was believed that the Corpus really was the religion of the ancient Egyp-
tians, and that Hermes was a kind of Egyptian Moses. The fact that they were written
much later, and heavily influenced by Neoplatonism, had the effect of convincing readers
at that time that Greek philosophy was founded on much older, Egyptian religious philo-
sophy - this had a huge influence on liberal religious and philosophical thinking at the
time. Into this environment came the Kabbalah, brought in part by fleeing Spanish Jews,
and it was seized upon as another lost tradition, the inner, initiated key to the Bible.
Two figures stand out. One was Giovanni Pico, Count of Mirandola, who commissioned
several translations of Kabbalistic works, and did much to publicise Kabbalah among the
intellectuals of the day. The other was Johannes Reuchlin, who learned to read Hebrew
and became deeply immersed in Kabbalistic literature. It must be said that Jews were sus-
picious of this activity, finding that Christian scholars were using the Kabbalah as a
bludgeon to persuade them to convert to Christianity.
On the basis of a detailed examination of texts, and a study of the development of a spe-
cialist vocabulary and a distinct body of ideas, Scholem has concluded that the origins of
Kabbalah can be traced to 12th. century Provence. The origin of the word "Kabbalah" as
a label for a tradition which is definitely recognisable as Kabbalah is attributed to Isaac
the Blind (c. 1160-1236 C.E.), who is also credited with being the originator of the idea
of sephirothic emanation.
Prior to this (and after) a wide variety of terms were used for those who studied the tradi-
tion: "masters of mystery", "men of belief", "masters of knowledge", "those who know",
"those who know grace", "children of faith", "children of the king's palace", "those who
know wisdom", "those who reap the field", "those who have entered and left".
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has reviewed Mr. Schleede's publica-
tions, and while we do not wish to spend scarce resources of time and effort getting
bogged down in lengthy point-by-point responses, we would like to address a number of
issues raised by Mr. Schleede's writings:
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In this connection, it seems relevant to note that Mr. Schleede has also been an active
campaigner against the Kyoto Agreement on global warming and that he is a former Seni-
or Vice President of the National Coal Association.
2. Compared to What?
Mr. Schleede's fact sheets typically talk about wind energy in isolation. This is mislead-
ing, because it gives the impression that the choice is between a wind farm and nothing.
Of course, nothing looks very attractive—by definition, it has no environmental impacts
or other drawbacks. However, when you flip a light switch, you will probably be very
disappointed if nothing comes out of the wall. In the real world, the choice is always
between wind and something else—a wind plant that is not built in location X means
more coal that is mined, shipped, and burned in location Y, or some other type of genera-
tion—and the environmental impacts of other energy sources are almost always greater
than those of an equivalent amount of wind generation.
If Mr. Schleede does make a comparison, it is typically between wind and a natural gas
plant. This in itself is somewhat misleading, since America obtains more than three times
as much electricity from coal as it does from gas. But beyond that question, his comparis-
on omits the impact of EXTRACTING the gas, which can be quite severe, in terms of
noise and air and water pollution. Energy production is always about choices. For an au-
thoritative study of our energy choices and their environmental impacts, see "The Envir-
onmental Imperative for Renewable Energy: An Update," available from the Renewable
Energy Policy Project on the Web at http://www.repp.org/repp_pubs/repp_publication-
s.html
More importantly, coal, our largest electricity source, receives an enormous hidden
subsidy due to the fact that its environmental costs are not included in its market
price. A recent article in the scientific journal "Science" placed the cost of electricity
from a new coal plant at 3.5 to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but added that its
true cost to the public is 5.5 to 8.3 cents/kWh when environmental costs such as air
pollution and acid rain are added in. This amounts to a subsidy ranging from 60%
to more than 100%(!). As long as the economic system does not reflect such costs, it
is good public policy to provide offsetting subsidies to clean energy sources such as
wind.
Source: "America Takes Stock of a Vast Energy Resource," Utility Wind Interest Group,
February 1992--part of a series of informational brochures produced under
the auspices of the Utility Wind Interest Group by the Technical Information Program
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located at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and published by the
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
7. Is wind unreliable?
Mr. Schleede claims that wind energy is unreliable, and is not always clear as to whether
he is talking about the wind itself or about wind generators. Let's be clear--the wind does
not always blow, but wind turbines are highly reliable, and ready to generate electricity
when it does. Average wind turbine "availability" (readiness to generate) is actually
higher than the average availability of conventional power plants (98% for wind,
approximately 95% for conventional power plants). Furthermore, wind projects con-
sist of many relatively small turbines rather than one or two large generators like conven-
tional power plants. Therefore, the likelihood of a sudden, unanticipated loss of all power
from a wind plant is significantly less than that for a conventional power plant of equival-
ent size.
The wind is definitely variable, but utility system operators are always dealing with a
changing situation, as consumer demand fluctuates and power plants (conventional as
well as wind) start up or shut down. Adding 10-15% percent of wind generation to a util-
ity system has very little effect on a system already designed to handle this level of vari-
ability. If wind were the ONLY power source, then major changes to the system would be
needed--but no one envisions that.
The three little pigs don’t live here, and you cannot blow it down! Actually, according to
the department of energy, this is the leading energy efficient and structurally sound form
of sustainable housing to be developed in recent years.
8.4.1 Introduction
Americans want comfortable, attractive, functional, and durable housing. Yet, many in-
creasingly find high quality housing beyond their means. Conventional building methods
rely on plentiful resources. With some of these resources dwindling, housing costs are
skyrocketing. The cost of a home includes materials, construction, financing, taxes, en-
ergy consumption, and insurance. This booklet explores recent attempts to reduce those
costs. Construction techniques discussed in this booklet focus on building resource-effi-
cient and energy-conserving homes, without sacrificing affordability or quality.
Straw-bale building is a practical and perhaps under utilized construction method. Initi-
ated in the United States at the turn of the century, straw-bale building is showing new
merit in today's marketplace. Walls of straw, easily constructed and structurally sound,
promise to take some of the pressure off of limited forest resources.
Straw is a viable building alternative, plentiful and inexpensive. Straw-bale buildings
boast super insulated walls (R-50), simple construction, low costs, and the conversion of
an agricultural byproduct into a valued building material. Properly constructed and main-
tained, the straw-bale walls, stucco exterior and plaster interior remain waterproof, fire
resistant, and pest free. Because only limited skill is required, a community house-raising
effort can build most of a straw-bale house in a single day. This effort yields a low-cost,
elegant, and energy-efficient living space for the owners, a graceful addition to the com-
munity, and a desirable boost to local farm income. This booklet offers an in-depth look
Matts Myhrman and Judy Knox, straw-bale construction consultants, have visited many
of these "Nebraska-type" bale structures, built between 1900 and 1940. Myhrman redis-
covered the area's oldest existing bale building, the Burke homestead, constructed in
1903 outside Alliance, Nebraska. Although abandoned in 1956, the Burke homestead
continues to successfully withstand Nebraska's wide temperature swings and blizzard
force winds. Long-time Nebraskan Lucille Cross recalls the hay-bale house of her child-
hood was so quiet that her family, not hearing a tornado outside, just sat there playing
cards, while the tornado wrought havoc all around them.
In Wyoming, straw-bale structures have consistently withstood severe weather and earth-
quakes. "The earthquake was in the 1970s and it was either 5.3 or 5.8," Chuck Bruner, a
resident of one of the houses told The Mother Earth News. "There wasn't a single crack in
the house. You can live in this house comfortably during the summer. It stays nice and
cool. We have never needed any air conditioning, and in summer we get days up in the
90s. Also, last winter, I only turned our small bedroom heater on twice. If I had to guess
how our utility bills compare to those of our neighbors, I'd have to say our bill is about
half.
Building a straw-bale house is relatively simple. A basic 2,000 square-foot house requires
about 300 standard three-wire bales of straw (costing approximately $1,000). Placed on a
foundation, the bales are skewered on rebar pins like giant shiskabobs. After wiring and
plumbing, the walls are sealed and finished. Because grains are grown in almost every re-
gion of the country, straw bales are readily available, with minimal transportation costs.
Lumber from trees, in addition to becoming more scarce and expensive, must be trans-
ported over longer distances.
In 1991, the Navajo Nation asked the DOE for assistance in creating more energy-effi-
cient, affordable housing. Under the proposal, DOE and HUD provides funds for technic-
al assistance to review home designs and suggest alternatives, while the Navajo Nation
provide funds for construction of a demonstration house. A team was assembled in
December 1992 to discuss local housing construction, evaluate design options, identify
the needs of home occupants, and inventory community sentiment. In architectural
circles, this process is known as a "design charrette." Charrette participants were selected
for expertise in energy, finance, indigenous materials, passive solar design, and know-
ledge of the Navajo community and traditions. The design charrette was conducted in
Gallup, New Mexico and focused on the following design criteria for the prototype home:
• Energy efficiency.
• Affordability.
• Resource-efficient building technology.
• Use of local materials.
• Community involvement and use of local labor.
• Cultural compatibility.
• Design simplicity, adaptability, and comfort.
The final design that was agreed upon was a unique combination of "Nebraska-style"
straw-bale walls and adobe walls with passive solar orientation. This combination has
several benefits. Straw-bale and adobe are inexpensive, locally available materials that
can be used for building by local unskilled labor after only minimal training. Straw-bale
walls are super-insulated (about R-50), and adobe and passive solar orientation have been
used for centuries by Native Americans in the southwest. Because of the two-foot thick
bale walls, the resulting structure has approximately 1,000 square feet of living space.
Construction of the demonstration home began in July 1993 near Ganado, Arizona and
was completed in December 1994. The home successfully met the design criteria in the
following ways.
Energy Efficiency. The high elevation desert climate of the Navajo Nation, characterized
by wide daily temperature fluctuations, low humidity, plentiful sunshine, and cold win-
ters, dictated the design parameters for the prototype home. Well-insulated walls, good
air-leakage control, and taking advantage of the solar radiation were key to reducing the
use and cost of space heating. Unlike a wood frame wall that has many pieces assembled
at the site, bales provide an nearly monolithic layer of straw that is covered inside with
plaster and outside with stucco. Coupled with a simple geometric design, the monolithic
wall coverings result in very little air leakage.
Straw is a form of cellulose that has reasonably good insulating properties; and because a
bale can be up to two feet thick, a straw-bale wall has extremely high thermal resistance.
Recent tests following ASTM procedures resulted in bale R-values between R-2.4 and R-
3.0 per inch, depending on the direction of the straw, and showed that thermal resistance
is affected by moisture and density of the pack (Joseph McCabe, January 1993). Matts
Myhrman, another straw-bale expert, suggests that R-2.4 per inch is representative of
straw-bale thermal resistance in the field. Therefore, straw-bale homes should have lower
heating and cooling costs than conventional homes.
METHODS OF BUILDING WITH STRAW: Straw has been used for centuries by
builders who recognized its structural integrity. A piece of straw is simply a tube made of
cellulose. Tubes are recognized as one of the strongest structural shapes. Straw was first
used to reinforce mud against cracking. A lattice of straw criss-crossing a layer of mud
produced a surface that remained crack free for decades, or in many cases, centuries.
With the late 19th century invention of the baler, builders were given a convenient new
building block, the rectangular bundle of straw. Straw-bale building in the United States
has been mostly structural (Nebraska-style) and non-structural. Pliny Fisk III of the Cen-
ter for Maximum Building Potential in Austin, Texas, describes the following five meth-
ods of building with straw.
1. In-fill or non-structural bale - This building system, useful for construction of large
structures, depends on a pole or post-and-beam building design. Post-and-beam construc-
tion employs a skeleton of vertical posts and horizontal beams to support the roof. The
straw-bale walls have only themselves to support. The bales are attached to each other by
piercing the bales with rebar or bamboo and attaching the bales to the pole or column.
Fisk's Center has completed three buildings totaling 4,500 square-feet of space using this
method.
2. Structural bale - Automatic straw balers create tight building blocks that are stacked up
to one and one-half stories. The "Nebraska-style" buildings originated on the Great Plains
where structural wood was not available. Bales are stuccoed on the exterior and plastered
on the interior to protect them and provide an attractive finish. The stucco and plaster add
to the structural integrity of the wall system.
3. Straw-clay building - A pancake like batter of clay and water stirred into the loose
straw produces a straw-reinforced clay mud. In the past, this mixture was packed into a
double-sided wood form between the posts and beams of a timber-frame building. Today,
a light weight wooden ladder like frame replaces the old heavy timber frame. European
heavy timber structures using this method are still standing after more than 200 years.
This method has passed the most stringent European fire codes.
4. Mortar bale - Structural mortar, made of portland cement and sand, is applied between
the straw bales. When dry, its lattice structure remains intact if the straw bales should
ever fail. This method, developed in Canada, passes Canadian building codes. Bales are
stuccoed on the exterior and plastered on the interior to protect them and provide an at-
tractive finish. The mortered joints, stucco, and plaster also add to the structural integrity
of the wall system.
5. Pressed straw panels - Straw is compacted under certain temperatures. The resulting
panels are 100 percent straw that can be used to build pre-fabricated structures, not only
walls, but also roofs and floors.
The Department of Energy, interested in the magnitude of potential energy savings of the
wall design options, asked building scientist Jim Hanford of Lawrence Berkeley Laborat-
ory (LBL) to analyze the thermal characteristics of the various wall materials and project
energy savings for the prototype home. The energy efficiency of various building design
options was analyzed during the design charrette at Navajo and continued to be evaluated
during the construction and testing phases of this project. Hanford's analysis, which fol-
lows, assumes R-2.4 per inch for a straw bale, with sensitivities conducted at R-1.8 and
R-3.0 per inch. Table one compares thermal characteristics of the straw-bale wall with the
other wall constructions considered at the Navajo design charrette.
4.8" panel
insulated 4.8"
18.4 0.054 13.7 4.9
panel
Fibrous
Concrete
Panel
insulated 3"
16.7 0.060 16.9 4.7
panel
insulated 4"
19.1 0.052 20.1 5.7
panel
Straw Bale
23" bale @
R-1.8/inch 42.7 0.023
(-25%)
23" bale @
56.5 0.018 21.4 6.4
R-2.4/inch
23" bale @
R-3.0/inch 70.3 0.014
(+25%)
Foam Blocks
6" form w/
concrete/ado 26.3 0.038 40.8 7.5
be fill
8" form w/
concrete/ado 28.0 0.036 54.2 9.8
be fill
Adobe
uninsulated
3.5 0.284 95.0 17.9
10"
insulated 10" 11.9 0.084 95.3 18.0
uninsulated
6.8 0.147 183.4 34.2
24"
exterior insu-
15.1 0.066 183.6 34.3
lated 24"
Notes:
• All walls have stucco exterior and drywall interior, except adobe and straw walls
have plaster.
• Wood frame walls have 25 percent (R-11) and 20 percent (R-19) stud areas. The
R-19 batt compresses to R-18.
• Straw bale wall R-value is calculated for 3 unit R-values for straw to cover poten-
tial variability.
• Average material thickness across foam block wall sections are as follows:
• 6 inch foam has 2.9 inches polystryene each side and 3.4 inches of fill.
• 8 inch foam has 3.1 inches polystryene each side and 4.8 inches of fill.
• Wall properties are based on 75 percent adobe and 23 percent concrete fill.
The thermal performance for buildings using these wall constructions is compared in fig-
ures one and two. The data shown are simulation predictions of building heating and
cooling loads per unit of floor area, using the DOE-2 building energy simulation pro-
gram. The building size, shape, and other component characteristics are based on the
Navajo straw-bale demonstration house. In the final case, straw-bale construction is com-
bined with passive solar design. Weather data used in this analysis is from Cedar City,
Utah representing the colder, mountainous areas of the reservation, and Albuquerque,
New Mexico, representing the warmer climates.
The results assume that the building infiltration rate is the same for all wall systems. All
building components, including the roof, floors, windows, doors, and air infiltration need
to be considered in the analysis of an energy-efficient dwelling.
The design team chose plastered straw-bale walls for their high R-value (approximately
R-50) and adobe walls to absorb and radiate solar gain. The straw-bale walls face the
northwest and join the adobe walls on the north and east sides of the building, exposing
the adobe to the maximum solar radiation, yet shielding it from the prevailing winter
wind. Both the adobe and straw bale walls are coated with three layers of stucco inside
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and out for protection. The attic, windows, and doors of the demonstration home are also
well insulated and sealed to minimize drafts. The resulting building is super-insulated, re-
maining cool on hot summer days and requiring minimal heating in winter.
LBL analyses show that (1) there are alternative construction technologies that provide
equal or better energy performance than current practice, (2) the demonstration building,
with a few modifications, could be substantially more energy efficient and comfortable
than current practice, while meeting other program goals of architectural interest and long
term environmental sustainability; and (3) straw-bale construction, along with appropriate
building conservation technologies and simple passive solar design, could provide up to a
60 percent reduction in building heating loads over current practice.
SUMMARY OF LBL'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• Straw-bale building technology offers the best energy performance of any of the
new construction typologies currently being considered, with 15 percent improve-
ments in overall building energy-efficiency in heating for the climates on the
Navajo reservation.
• The wall panel technologies that were part of this analysis, either straw or fibrous
concrete, when insulated with an additional two inches of polystyrene insulation,
perform about the same as an R-19 wood frame wall. Similarly, adobe should be
insulated for better thermal performance.
• Small changes in the straw-bale/adobe prototype dwelling, specifically slab insu-
lation, higher insulation in the vaulted ceiling, and either insulating or replacing
the adobe walls with straw bales, would vastly improve the performance of this
building.
• Energy-related testing of straw-bale buildings in the field is warranted. Infiltra-
tion characteristics and the effects of moisture on energy performance need fur-
ther evaluation.
• Future design and building programs on the Navajo reservation should consider
using better technologies for all building components, including increased roof
insulation, advanced window features, and infiltration reduction details.
• Affordability. The Navajo project has demonstrated that straw-bale construction can be
inexpensive compared to other materials. Table two details the costs of the project.
The cost of the finished 988 square-foot home equates to $58 per square foot, not includ-
ing the cost of utility hookups (water, power, and sewage). A similar sized wood-frame
house constructed in the same area would probably have cost about the same as the
demonstration prototype. However, future straw-bale homes should cost considerably less
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than the prototype because of required changes and modifications during building of the
prototype. In addition, the labor-intensive double adobe walls of the "hearth" area added
more than $3,000 to the project. Had the exterior walls been entirely straw-bale, the over-
all costs would have been lower. Straw bales were supplied at a cost of $2.50 a bale, in-
cluding transportation. Normally, the cost of a bale wall is about one-fourth the cost of a
comparable, super-insulated wall built with conventional materials. Construction crews
and volunteers with no straw-bale building experience erected the walls in a single day.
Approximately 2,500 labor hours, a portion of which was donated, went into construction
of the prototype house.
Table Two. Construction and Labor Costs for the Straw-bale Demonstration Project at
Ganado
Labor Material Labor & Material
Footing $ 576 $1,022 $1,598
Foundation 2,500 2,938 5,438
Slab 20 3,435 4155
Strawbale 540 1,032 1,572
Adobe 1,920 1,575 3,495
Bond Beam 576 1,022 1,598
Cripple Wall (Fram-
720 3,990 4,710
ing)
Insulation 576 664 1,240
Roof Structure 4,032 5,233 9,265
Stuccoing 1,440 3,430 4,870
Interior Walls 864 1,998 2,862
Interior Finishes 1,152 1,615 2,767
Ceiling Finishes 1,440 1,009 2,449
Rough Plumbing 576 621 1,197
Rough Wiring 576 490 1,066
Plumbing Trimming 384 1,041 1,425
Electrical Trimming 384 1,252 1,636
Cabinets 384 1,195 1,579
Floor Finishes 440 1,188 1,628
Fixed
Equipment/Wood 1,200 1,296 2,496
Stove
Totals $21,000 $36,046 $57,046
These considerations led to the selection of straw bale and adobe as building materials for
the demonstration house at Ganado. Straw bales were available not far from the building
site and adobe blocks were manufactured from soil taken from the site. Plastered straw-
bale building was just one component the resource-efficient strategy employed in the
Navajo demonstration project. Passive solar design and the use of adobe as the thermal
mass were also used to save energy and lower heating and cooling costs.
Solar Energy. In the Navajo area, the daytime average solar radiation is 1200 BTUs per
hour during the six winter months and 1800 during the six summer months. This ample
sunshine makes solar energy a good strategy for winter space heating. Solar heat,
however, needs to be controlled during the summer months to prevent overheating.
At the Navajo demonstration project, the home's design oriented the windows to use
passive solar heating and passive cooling. Due to the width of straw bales, the windows
are naturally shaded from the high, hot summer sun, while the lower, winter sun is al-
lowed to enter. Most of the passive solar heat is provided by the wood-frame and glass
sunspace on the south side. The concrete floor and adobe walls within the sunspace
provide heat storage of daytime heat for nighttime use. During winter, solar heat collected
in the sunspace is vented into the home. For back-up heating, the Navajo demonstration
home utilizes a wood pellet stove and two electric baseboard heaters. During summer, the
sunspace is shaded and vented to prevent overheating.
Adobe Walls and Thermal Mass. Adobe and rammed earth construction are two of the
oldest and most commonly used building materials. Adobe has been used to shelter the
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Navajo people for centuries and, consequently, was integrated into the demonstration pro-
ject. Exterior adobe walls are appropriate in a desert climate with wide day-to-night tem-
perature swings. Adobe walls stabilize the home's interior by moderating the indoor ef-
fects of high and low outdoor temperatures. Adobe walls absorb solar heat during the day,
and at night radiate their heat back into the cool night sky leaving the home at a comfort-
able temperature. Exterior and interior adobe walls provide excellent thermal mass. In the
Navajo demonstration project, adobe serves as thermal mass in the common wall between
the solar sunspace and main house, and also in interior house walls.
Plaster, stucco's in-door cousin, is a smooth mixture of mostly lime. They are both mix-
tures of crushed rock and sand. The mixture's most adhesive component is portland ce-
ment, a blend of pulverized rock.
Lime, which is limestone crushed to a powder, adds pliability or spreadability to the mix.
And sand, called the aggregate, gives the mix substance. The best aggregates combine
different sizes of clean, sharp-edged sand.
Mortar, also a mixture of cement, lime, and sand, is used in masonry or plastering.
Adobe is compressed earth. The best adobes are high in clay, which is very fine soil with
good cohesion. The adobe is rammed into forms or pressed into blocks while damp, then
sun-dried to form a durable building material.
• Use of local materials. The Navajo demonstration project utilized straw bales from the
Navajo Agricultural Products Industry, a neighboring agricultural enterprise. Portland ce-
ment and gravel for the foundation were obtained from a cement batch plant in nearby
Chinle. A hydraulic adobe press formed adobe blocks directly from the building site's
soil. This compressed adobe was used immediately, without curing time. Blocks were
dry-stacked, without mortar, by wetting the top of the previous course of adobe, before
setting the next layer. The walls were then stuccoed.
• Community involvement and use of local labor. Part of what makes straw-bale con-
struction so affordable is its ability to effectively utilize homeowner participation and un-
skilled labor. Material costs of straw-bale walls represent less than one-fifth of the cost of
a wall system; four-fifths of the cost of building a wall goes for labor. Owner-builders can
achieve great savings by providing their own labor. For the Navajo demonstration project,
the homeowner contributed ten hours a day assisting with construction. Many additional
hours were donated by friends, family, and other visitors to the site. Experienced labor
was necessary for foundation work, roof framing, and electrical wiring. The construction
manager was the only one at the site who had had straw-bale building experience; none
of the paid or volunteer labor crew had previous experience with straw-bale construction.
• Design simplicity, adaptability, and comfort. The simplicity of the design of straw-
bale and adobe homes has comfort, energy, maintenance, and adaptability advantages
over conventional American homes. A rectangular design with smooth seamless walls and
ceilings minimizes air leakage, which could be both an energy and comfort problem. The
simplicity of design also allows for a super-insulated shell with few thermal flaws leading
to exceptionally stable indoor temperatures and effective noise exclusion from the out-
doors. The design of simple straw-bale and adobe homes can easily be expanded to in-
clude additional rooms.
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The 1,400 square-foot home of Virginia Carabelli near Santa Fe, New Mexico was de-
signed by local architect, Ken Figuerado. The Carabelli house cost $60 a square-foot,
which included radiant floor heating, three fireplaces, and other custom features.
The home of Catherine Wells in Santa Fe, New Mexico, measuring 1,224 square-feet (ex-
terior measurement), was built by Ted Varney at $56 a square-foot. The width of the
straw-bale walls (ranging from 14 inches to to 24 inches) reduces the interior square foot-
age dimensions when compared with the exterior measurements. The cost includes interi-
or features such as radiant floor heating supplied by solar panels located on the roof and
flooring laid with tile pavers. The main interior wall was also constructed of straw bales
to increase sound insulation.
The pottery studio of Kate Brown (720 square-feet), in Mimbres, New Mexico, could be
used as a small home. It was owner-built for $12 a square-foot. In Corrales, New Mexico,
the private chapel of Dykeman Vermian, 215 square-feet, was built by Cadmun Whitty
for $18 a square-foot. The chapel is an example of straw bales used in a pueblo-style
building.
The straw-bale home of Mark Hawes is located in the Sangre De Cristo mountains of
northern New Mexico. The house is post-and-beam construction with straw bales used as
fill for the walls. Because it is in a remote location and off-the-grid, a photovoltaic system
provides the electricity. The 1,400 square-foot structure was engineered by DeLapp En-
gineering of Santa Fe and built to code in 1992 by Hawes, a building contractor. The in-
terior of the house contains custom southwestern features that added to the cost, which
was approximately $46 a square-foot.
The first legal building in California constructed primarily of straw bales was completed
in 1992. The Noland project, a 2,500 square-foot ranch headquarters and residence, is
located in the Owens Valley in eastern California. Designed by architects Ken Haggard
and Polly Cooper with Pliny Fisk and built by contractor Greg McMillan, the passive sol-
ar structure used straw bales for the walls on the north and east sides of the building.
In Arizona, straw-bale construction is steadily increasing. Pima County and the City of
Tucson are expected to adopt straw-bale construction into their building codes in the near
future. The straw-bale demonstration home of Mary Diamond, approximately 1,200
square-feet (exterior measurement), is in southeast Arizona. The house is off-the-grid, us-
ing photovoltaic power. It has a wind cooling tower, a composting toilet, and a greywater
system. Built for approximately $50 per square-foot, the demonstration house is open to
the public for overnight visits.
8.4.5 Affordability
How Affordable is a Straw-Bale House? A straw-bale house may cost the same as a
conventional wood frame house. However, there are many factors that can make a straw-
bale house less expensive; and, there are additional benefits to building with straw. Ac-
cording to a 1982 Housing magazine cost guide, exterior and interior wall systems com-
prise approximately 30 percent of the cost of construction for a typical wood frame, slab
on grade house in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With the recent increases in the costs of
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A 2,000 square-foot straw-bale house requires about 300 standard, three-wire bales at a
cost of approximately $1,000. The cost of a "Nebraska-style" (structural) bale wall is
about one-fourth that of a comparable super-insulated wall. Of course, there are many
other variables that go into building a house such as the cost of labor, choice of finishes
such as siding, roofing, flooring, and other amenities. Unique to straw-bale construction
is the broad range of costs associated with different levels of quality available to builders.
Table three compares the range of straw-bale construction costs based on a number of
variables.
The cost of a straw-bale house depends on the size of the building, the cost of materials
including bales, the design of the house, and the amount of "sweat-equity" donated by the
owner and friends. Straw-bale costs range from fifty cents each when purchased from the
fields of Montana to $3.50 to $5.00 for three-wire bales delivered to a site in Arizona.
Homes have been built for as little as $5,000 to well above $200,000. Construction costs
range from $5 to $120 per square-foot. ($53 per square-foot is the national average for
conventional construction.) Straw-bale houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes from
A-frames to tipis to two-story custom homes. Simple, owner-built structures tend to be
less expensive.
Table 3. Outline Range of Straw Bale Construction Costs Per Square Foot (sf)*
Very Low 120-1000 sf @ $5-$20
a) scavenging, salvaging materials
b) material costs only, owner-builder labor
throughout
c) initial start-up costs, ongoing improvements,
pay as-you-go
d) Nebraska-style, timber frame, and post and
beam:
Low 1000-1500 sf @ $30-$50
a) contractor-built, owner-build wall, finishes
b) subcontract foundations, plumbing, mechanical,
roof
c) experienced job-site supervisor
d) materials at market cost
e) typically post-and-beam or Nebraska-style
Moderate 1500-2500 sf @$50-$80
a) standard, contractor-built
b) production housing
c) speculative development
d) typically post-and-beam
Long-lasting, low maintenance building materials and protection from the elements are
key for a long-term, maintenance-free house. Providing proper site drainage is the most
important factor for the home's longevity. If the ground around the house remains dry and
the house is sufficiently maintained, the life-span could be hundreds of years. The roof is
another crucial component. Leaky roofs damage many homes each year. Steeper roofs
constructed of more permanent roofing materials are preferred. Properly built and main-
tained, straw-bale walls can last hundreds of years.
Table four compares the life-cycle costs of a conventional house with a straw-bale house.
The Plastered Straw Bale Working Group (September, 1993) estimated that the straw-
bale homes use half as much energy as conventional houses do for heating and cooling.
This could translate to a savings of several hundred dollars a year over the life of a home.
• Finance cost = construction cost minus down payment of twenty percent at an an-
nual interest rate of six percent over the one hundred year life cycle (does not in-
clude closing costs when the house is sold).
• Energy = the average cost for heating and cooling a conventional home for this
analysis to be $100 per month.
• Total = Amount of down payment plus energy and finance.
Source: Working Group Reports, Plastered Straw Bale Conference, "Roots and Revival,"
Arthur Nebraska, September, 1993.
Will the bales rot? Without adequate safeguards, rot can occur. The most important safe-
guard is to buy dry bales. Fungi and mites can live in wet straw, so it's best to buy the
straw when it's dry and keep it dry until it is safely sealed into the walls. Paint for interior
and exterior wall surfaces should be permeable to water vapor so that moisture doesn't
get trapped inside the wall. Construction design must prevent water from gathering where
the first course of bales meets the foundation. Even if straw bales are plastered, the
foundation upon which the bales rest should be elevated above outside ground level by at
least six inches or more. This protects bales from rain water splashing off the roof.
Will pests destroy the walls? Straw bales provide fewer havens for pests such as insects
and vermin than conventional wood framing. Once plastered, any chance of access is
eliminated.
Are straw-bale buildings a fire hazard? The National Research Council of Canada
tested plastered straw bales for fire safety and found them to perform better than conven-
tional building materials. In fact, the plaster surface withstood temperatures of about
1,850? F for two hours before any cracks developed. According to the Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation, "The straw-bales/mortar structure wall has proven to be excep-
tionally resistant to fire. The straw bales hold enough air to provide good insulation
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value, but because they are compacted firmly, they don't hold enough air to permit com-
bustion."
Are straw-bale buildings acceptable to my local building code? Most cities and
counties have adopted one of three or four model building codes. City, county, and state
building codes may be different. Straw bale is acceptable to some codes, and not accept-
able to other codes.
8.4.7 Resources
For more information about straw-bale construction, contact the following resources:
STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION
Development Center for Appropriate Technology. Consulting, education, testing and
research, networking. Straw Bale Construction and Building Codes, A Working Paper
and Draft Prescriptive Standard for Structural and Non-Structural Straw Bale Construc-
tion for Pima County and the City of Tucson, Arizona. P.O. Box 41144, Tucson, AZ
85717, (520) 326-1418.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.
Energy-Efficient Building Technologies for the Navajo Reservation and Analysis of A
Straw-Bale/ Adobe Dwelling Prototype, November 1994, by Jim Hanford and Joe Huang.
(LBL-36320, UC 1600). Energy Analysis Program, Berkeley, CA 94720, (510) 486-7438.
Straw Bale Construction Association.
Association of architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors
interested in straw-bale, testing, and methods inclusion into code. Forum for sharing tech-
nical information. 31 Old Arroyo Chamiso, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Sustainable Systems Support.
Consultation, design, workshops and informational materials. Videos: How To Build Your
Elegant Home with Straw Bales and Straw Bale Construction: The Elegant Solution, pro-
duced by Carol Escott & Steve Kemble. P.O. Box 318, Bisbee, AZ 85603.
Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.
Alternative building and design center, normally works on large projects. Rewriting the
alternative building codes for Texas. 8604 FM 969, Austin, TX 78724, (512) 928-4786.
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST),
777 N. Capitol St., NW, Ste. 805, Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 289-5365; email: in-
fo@crest.org www: http://solstice.crest.org/
Center for Resourceful Building Technology.
Information about resource-efficient building materials. GREBE: Guide to Resource Effi-
cient Building Elements and ReCraft 90: The Construction of a Resource-Efficient House
both by Steve Loken, P.O. Box 3866, Missoula, MT 59805, (406) 549-7678.
Environmental Building News. A bimonthly newsletter on environmentally sustainable
design and construction. RR 1 Box 161, Brattleboro, VT 05301, (802) 257-7300.
Home Energy. Bimonthly magazine of residential energy conservation. 2124 Kittridge
Street, No. 95, Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) 524-5405.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. OUR HOME: Buildings of the
Land, March 1994, HUD-1410-CPD. Energy-efficiency design guide for Indian housing.
HUD Office of Native American Programs, 451 - 7th Street, SW, Room B133, Washing-
ton, DC 20410- 7000, (202) 755-0032.
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a blue-green algae. It is a simple, one-celled form of algae that thrives in
warm, alkaline fresh-water bodies. The name "spirulina" is derived from the Latin word
for "helix" or "spiral"; denoting the physical configuration of the organism when it forms
swirling, microscopic strands.
Spirulina is being developed as the "food of the future" because of its amazing ability to
synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. Most
notably, Spirulina is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in
perfect balance. In comparison, beef is only 22 percent protein.
Spirulina has a photosynthetic conversion rate of 8 to 10 percent, compared to only 3 per-
cent in such land-growing plants as soybeans.
In addition, Spirulina is one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12, usually found only
in animal tissues. A teaspoon of Spirulina supplies 21/2 times the Recommended Daily
Allowance of vitamin B12 and contains over twice the amount of this vitamin found in an
equivalent serving of liver.
Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients - amino acids, che-
lated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace ele-
ments, enzymes - that are in an easily assimilable form.
Even though it is single-celled, Spirulina is relatively large, attaining sizes of 0.5 milli-
meters in length. This is about 100 times the size of most other algae, which makes some
individual Spirulina cells visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, the prolific reproductive
capacity of the cells and their proclivity to adhere in colonies makes Spirulina a large and
easily gathered plant mass.
The algae are differentiated according to predominating colorations, and are divided into
blue-green, green, red and brown. Spirulina is one of the blue-green algae due to the pres-
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ence of both chlorophyll (green) and phycocyanin (blue) pigments in its cellular struc-
ture.
Even though Spirulina is distantly related to the kelp algae, it is not a sea plant. However,
the fresh-water ponds and lakes it favors are notably more saline - in the range of 8 to 11
pH than ordinary lakes and cannot sustain any other forms of microorganisms. In addi-
tion, Spirulina thrives in very warm waters of 32 to 45 degrees C (approximately 85 to
112 degrees F), and has even survived in temperatures of 60 degrees C (140 degrees F)
Certain desert-adapted species will survive when their pond habitats evaporate in the in-
tense sun, drying to a dormant state on rocks as hot as 70 degrees Centigrade (160 de-
grees F). In this dormant condition, the naturally blue-green algae turns a frosted white
and develops a sweet flavor as its 71 percent protein structure is transformed into poly-
saccharide sugars by the heat.
Some scientists speculate that the "manna" of the wandering Israelites, which appeared
miraculously on rocks following a devastating dry spell and was described as tasting "like
wafers made with hone " may have been a form of dried, dormant Spirulina.
This ability of Spirulina to grow in hot and alkaline environments ensures its hygienic
status, as no other organisms can survive to pollute the waters in which this algae thrives.
Unlike the stereotypical association of microorganisms with "germs" and "scum",
Spirulina is in fact one of the cleanest, most naturally sterile foods found in nature.
Its adaptation to heat also assures that Spirulina retains its nutritional value when subject
to high temperatures during processing and shelf storage, unlike many plant foods that
rapidly deteriorate at high temperatures.
Spirulina is also unusual among algae because it is a "nuclear plant" meaning it is on the
developmental cusp between plants and animals. It is considered somewhat above plants
because it does not have the hard cellulose membranes characteristic of plant cells, nor
does it have a well-defined nucleus. Yet its metabolic system is based on photosynthesis,
a process of direct food energy production utilizing sunlight and chlorophyll, which is
typical of plant life forms.
In essence, Spirulina straddles that fork in evolutionary development when the plant and
animal kingdoms differentiated. Thus it embodies the simplest form of life. In contrast,
other algae such as Chlorella have developed the hard indigestible walls characteristic of
plants.
9 Conclusion: