Could our future homes be built of straw? –

Despite stories of children telling us not to build houses of straw, it seems that the material may not be the worst option for sustainable housing. In the town of Todmorden in the United Kingdom, straw panels will be used to insulate the walls of a university.

The panels come from EcoCocon, a Slovak company that has appointed Barbara Jones as one of its sales consultants. Jonas is an expert on natural building materials and believes this could be a showcase for more sustainable building options.

The panels are framed with wood and are 400 mm thick. Similar methods have been used for years by eco-friendly builders. The question is: are they any good? Apparently the answer is yes, because when packed in the proper density, straw has an insulating effect, and because it is packed so tightly, this also prevents it from being flammable unlike loose straw.

Moreover, it also combats unevenness, potentially saving you costs that you would otherwise spend on applying plaster first. So it is possible to build a straw house for about £2,000 per square meter.

Would you consider living in a house made of straw?

Thanks, BBC.