RE: The future of SB housing?

["Jeff Ruppert" <jruppert2@uswest.net>]

Roger,

Our progress is a reflection of mainstream perceptions of straw bale
construction.  If we want to make a dent we need developers on our side.
This is not an easy task.  The vast majority of homeowners buy their homes
already built from a developer.  SB construction also is not cheaper than a
framed home if you compare the same finished products.  Sure an owner built
home may cost less, but many of them are things that would scare many people
away from the idea.  This is not my opinion, it is fact!  I design and build
them for people all over Colorado and most, if not all, of them want their
homes to look and feel like a framed home.  Not some organic, touchy/feely
hobbit house.  Making SB walls straight takes time, which means labor that
costs money if you don't do it yourself.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer the
organic, touchy/feely stuff, but most people don't.  There are virtually
thousands of framed homes under construction in our state as we speak.  How
do we displace some of that lumber and poor energy efficiency now?!
Owner/builders are hardy people by nature and they are a small fration of
society.  We can't rely on owner/builders to create a wave of revolution in
the construction industry.  We need to find people with some clout who are
willing to put some money where their mouth is and build a hundred or a
thousand homes at once.  This will make everyone sit up and take notice!
Until this happens, though, I feel we will continue to gradually make
progress, which isn't bad either, given the state of SB construction and
standardization of systems.  If we can't agree on what the best system is to
build these with (ie type of P&B frame, type of plasters, etc.) how can we
do it on a larger scale at a more rapid pace?  There are too many mixed
signals and people are experimenting at a very fast pace.  There is alot
going on here.

Jeff Ruppert, P.E.
----------
Odisea Engineering, Planning and Design
2814 15th St.
Boulder, CO 80304
303/881-2905
jruppert2@uswest.net