When the Haliburton food bank and thrift store move
into their new headquarters in August, they will be
located in a straw bale building with solar powered
electricity and solar radiant heating.
Constructed by the 21 students in Fleming College's
new Sustainable Building Design and Construction program,
the building also features an earth-bag foundation
with used carpet insulation, a rammed earth floor,
clay plastered hemp bale walls, sheep's wool insulation
in the roof and recycled foam insulation in the floor.
"As a commercial building, it's way out there," says
program co-ordinator Chris Magwood, the co-author
of a newly released book called "More Straw Bale Building."
"I'm not aware of anything in the country that comes
close to it in terms of being an environmentally sound
space."
The building's photovoltaic system is tied into the
grid. When it produces excess power, it will be fed
to other homes and businesses in the area. When there
is not enough, it can draw on the local electrical
supply.
All the features of the 1,800 square foot building
are designed to lessen the building's impact on the
environment, lower operating costs and offer better
health for its occupants.
Supervised by electricians and plumbers, students
have done the work themselves, completing the building
during the 20- week program. The unique college program
gives students both theory and hands-on time with
some of the best practitioners in renewable energy
and sustainable building design including architects
and engineers.
Drawing on the talents of the nearby Haliburton School
of the Arts, the building will include a stone sculpture,
a ceramic wall hanging from the pottery students and
decorative iron work on its front, courtesy of the
blacksmith program.
The building is a co-operative venture involving the
Municipality of Dysart et al, Fleming College and
the Haliburton 4 C's - a coalition of eight churches
in the area.
Fleming is the first college in Canada to offer this
innovative program where, each year, students will
complete a building project.
Article © newswire.ca. Picture © Sir Sandford Fleming
College
