[GSBN] Straw Habitat For Humanity in the USA

Wed Jan 31 15:39:51 UTC 2024

Cillian Barrett of Hearth Design Build completed an award-winning straw
bale Habitat project <https://www.hearthdesignbuild.org/portfolio> in
Gunnison Valley, CO.  There are videos online about it.

Here is what he wrote about it in a cover letter recently:

Hearth Design Build has been contracted by Habitat for Humanity Gunnison
Valley, Colorado <https://www.hfhgunnisonvalley.org/> [HHGV] to design and
construct their homes since 2019.  Together we are reexamining historical
patterns within the design and construction industry to increase
opportunities for positive outcomes. Through this building program we
provide affordable homes to our community members that are resilient,
efficient and healthy. Our processes offer a multitude of benefits to our
local social, economical and ecological environments. The homes we are
currently building produce more energy than they consume annually with
Photovoltaic [PV] solar panels and sequester more embodied carbon than they
emit by the end of construction through intentional material selection.

We achieve this by using a framework called “Resource Conscious
Construction” [RCC]. It is an inclusive array of methods through which to
understand the systems and impact of the construction industry in a
holistic manner. The intention of RCC is to seek the most effective
solutions to address the current and unforeseen challenges in our industry
through the lens of community resiliency and equity.

Using RCC, this unique approach gave us the results and confidence to enter
the Habitat for Humanity International Design Competition in 2020. We won
the category for "*Best in Low Carbon Footprint 2020*”. This prize
highlighted our achievement of constructing a home that actually
sequestered more carbon than it omitted by the time of initial occupancy.
Using the best available LCA tools and data at the time, it captured 2 tons
of carbon compared to a conventional build with the same design that would
have emitted 14 tons. Using solar power it currently produces more energy
than it uses and has the ability to power an average electric vehicle to
drive 60 miles a day for no fuel cost. Our construction cost was within 4%
of a conventional build.

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International [HFHI],
featured this project in his keynote speech at RESNET 2021. He was speaking
to the need for sustainability and innovation in construction. RESENT is an
energy efficiency focused national trade organization who is responsible
for the HERS index. This opened up opportunities within our region to share
our experiences and to learn from others in similar fields. HHGV
was invited to present our program and building science research at the
2022 RESNET in Austin Texas. That video is available to those who attend
the RESNET virtual event in 2022.

Other Awards:
Colorado Green Building Guild: "Colorado Green Building of the Year 2021
<https://cgbg.org/coloradogreenbuildingannualawards>"
Habitat for Humanity International: "*Best in Low Carbon Footprint
2020*", "*Best
in Sustainability 2021*”.
Green Builder Media: "Grand Prize, Green Building of the Year 2023
<https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/january-february-2023-digital-issue-green-home-of-the-year-awards>
"
Follow up article by Alan Naditz "Colorado Home Is a Lesson in Humanity
<https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/blog/colorado-home-is-a-lesson-in-humanity>
"

Informational Videos:
The following two videos go into detail of how our 2019 home was
constructed and functions. This was a two part presentation hosted by
the: Alaskan
Center for Appropriate Technology <https://acat.org/>:
Part One - Building Techniques <https://vimeo.com/525748780/ac0998c94b>
Part Two - Systems & Monitoring <https://vimeo.com/528594788/027275196c>

Lindsey Love
AIA, NCARB, CPHT, LFA, Cert Healthy Materials
lindselove at gmail.com
https://www.sustainabletradesandhousingpartners.org
505.577.4266

On Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 9:19 PM <janetjohnstn at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Skillful Means had a straw Habitat for Humanity project in Yuba City, CA
> in 1998 ish.  I believe two of the houses got built.
>
>    - Janet
>
>
>
> *From:* GSBN <gsbn-bounces at lists.sustainablesources.com> *On Behalf Of *Anthony
> Dente
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 24, 2024 4:45 PM
> *To:* Global Sustainable Building Network <
> gsbn at lists.sustainablesources.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [GSBN] Straw Habitat For Humanity in the USA
>
>
>
> Thank you Chris, Dodson, Bob and Anni!
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 24, 2024 at 1:50 PM Bob Theis <bob at bobtheis.net> wrote:
>
> Anthony,
>
>
>
> The work of Community Rebuilds in Moab might be close enough to apply. .
>
>
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> On Jan 24, 2024, at 12:59 PM, Anthony Dente <anthony at verdantstructural.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi All, Are people able to share about any and all USA based Habitat For
> Humanity projects built with Straw?
>
>
>
> We are talking with our local branch here near San Francisco, which is one
> of the largest in the country, and all existing habitat presidents would
> aid our conversations.
>
>
>
> Thanks all, happy building!
>
> Anthony
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Anthony Dente, PE, LEED AP (he/him/his)*
>
> Principal
>
>
>
> Verdant Structural Engineers
>
> (formerly KDSE)
>
> 1101 8th Street #180
>
> Berkeley, CA 94710
>
> (510) 528-5394* - 103*
>
> *c: (814) 502-6001*
>
> www.verdantstructural.com
>
> Follow us on Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/verdantstructural/>,
> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/verdantstructural/> and LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/verdant-structural-engineers>!
>
>
>
> My book on Cob (Monolithic Adobe) Construction with New Society Publishers
> is now available: Essential Cob Construction
> <https://newsociety.com/books/e/essential-cob-construction>.
>
> --
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>
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> GSBN mailing list
> GSBN at lists.sustainablesources.com
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>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Anthony Dente, PE, LEED AP (he/him/his)*
>
> Principal
>
>
>
> Verdant Structural Engineers
>
> (formerly KDSE)
>
> 1101 8th Street #180
>
> Berkeley, CA 94710
>
> (510) 528-5394* - 103*
>
> *c: (814) 502-6001*
>
> www.verdantstructural.com
>
> Follow us on Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/verdantstructural/>,
> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/verdantstructural/> and LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/verdant-structural-engineers>!
>
>
>
> My book on Cob (Monolithic Adobe) Construction with New Society Publishers
> is now available: Essential Cob Construction
> <https://newsociety.com/books/e/essential-cob-construction>.
> --
> GSBN mailing list
> GSBN at lists.sustainablesources.com
> http://lists.sustainablesources.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gsbn
>
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