ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the environmental issues relating to an innovative form of building construction using straw bales.
Straw Bale construction has had quite a lot of attention from both the National Press, TV and Radio, as well as environmental publications. We ask whether straw bale construction is a viable form of construction in the UK and Europe and examine its pros and cons. In this chapter we will not be examining alternatives as straw bale construction is by its nature, alternative! This chapter is not intended to be a guide on how to construct straw bale buildings as others have produced these (Beale etc.- see list at end), but it reviews what is known about this form of construction.
