ABSTRACT
Canadian housing has several unique challenges which are presented by predominantly cold climates, century old patterns of development, conventional material preferences, and finally by comparatively inexpensive energy costs for building operations, as compared to European nations. Current industry standards and codes do not address full lifecycle or effect of materials on carbon footprint and energy consumption. Green building certification systems such as Net Zero Energy (NZE) may address operational energy, but provide a basis only for energy reduction and generation in the built environment. This paper examines the merits and valuation of straw bale construction as a feasible construction technique, specifically when striving to meet a NZE standard. The basis of determining feasibility is focused on a home in central Alberta and premised on the UN World Conference’s concept of the three pillars of sustainability: environment, social and economic impacts (people, planet, and profit).
