Straw Bale House:
Plans and Budget
for
Building
a Small "Starter" Straw Bale Home
(low cost to build - ultra energy efficient
- no utility costs)
SIZE: 480 square feet, external - 312 square feet, internal
- Gravel for foundation - $100
- Polyethylene bags and barbed-wire
for earth bags - $60
- 120 construction
grade straw bales @ $4.50 each - $540
- Bamboo for external pinning - $50
- Galvanized R-profile metal sheeting for
roof (new) - $800
- Screws with polypropolyne washers - $40
- Guttering materials for the rain water catchment system
- $100
- 3" thin-wall pipe and connectors - $40
- Some wood for window and door "bucks" which can not be scrounged -
$100
- Material for external strapping - $100
- Two 6' sliding-glass patio doors (used) - $150
- Eight single-pane
windows (used) - $200
- Window caulking tubes - $75
- Used sink - $30
- Lime and high-clay content soil for adobe/line
plaster - $300
- Washed sand - $100
- "How could I have forgotten that?" - $500
- Subtotal = $3450
Much of this is optional:
Utilities:
- Composting toilet - $1200
- Two 100 watt PV
panels - $900
- Three deep-cycle lead-acid batteries (refurbished) - $150
- 300 watt DC-AC sinewave inverter - $150
-
Battery cables, connectors, wire, and 12 volt lights - $250
- Solar hot water unit - $700
- Wood-burning stove (used)
- $150
- Pipe and roof sleeve - $50
- Subtotal = $3550
Joel Brown
Group Contact Center
