Eco Factor: Homes built from straw could have negative carbon footprint.
Straw was used to build houses in the medieval period, where modern construction materials were not available. Presently people living in all urban areas depend more on concrete for that added level of safety, but there are many people in developing and underdeveloped regions of the world that live in house made from straw and bamboo. Researchers at the University of Bath opine that straw can be used to construct homes that are tough, green and can stand in even the toughest of climatic conditions.
These researchers are developing environmentally-friendly “BaleHaus” that will be made from green and low-cost materials like straw and hemp. These researchers state that the crop required as raw materials for the green houses of the future can be grown locally. Since these crops absorb CO2 from the ambient air, the houses made from this material will not only have a zero carbon footprint, but they can actually boast a negative carbon footprint.
In addition to being low cost, the homes built from the material will require no added heating systems, as straw and hemp have high insulating properties, which will finally end up saving a lot of energy in the household.
Via: DailyMail
