SB: RE: SB in Sri Lanka (was Re:Please join to discuss.)

["Lawren Richards Brown" <lar25@georgetown.edu>]

>I think that the impetus to
promote the use of straw has come from the Rice Growers Association and SB
building enthusiasts rather than from aid agencies and govt.

My understanding is that the popularity of SB in California came about when
the government banned the burning of rice straw (because of pollution), thus
causing the rice growers to frantically search for something [profitable] to
do with the now overly-abundant amount of bales....

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert W. Tom [mailto:ArchiLogic@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 3:56 PM
To: strawbale@crest.org; trkrice
Subject: SB: SB in Sri Lanka (was Re:Please join to discuss.)


5/24/02 11:19:32 PM, trkrice <trkarice@sltnet.lk> wrote:

>I'm a young rice miller in srilanka, and a university student.

>1]  Are there any institution in the world , to have
>knowledge and financial support for straw bale constructions.
>
> 2]Could I found a any person or group or organization to  arrange a Join
>venture for above purpose.
>
>3]Could I arrange a "discussion" in this discussion group ,for have a any
>effort.
>
>4]If any thing cant arrange for this purpose ,
>what is the best alternative for these  sraws.{ I mean do some thing
>with out burning]
>Tharaka Herath.


Greetings Tharaka;

I had to look at an atlas to learn where Sri Lanka is located. That should
provide you with an indication of my level of knowledge about the Sri Lankan
climate. (None).

However, given your proximity to the equator and the fact that the country
is
completely surrounded by ocean, one assumes that high temperatures, high
humidity and copious amounts of rain would be the characteristics that
define
your climatic considerations and as such, straw bales would not be the
material
choice that immediately come to my mind for the walls.

That being said, I can tell you that the United Nations (UNEDP ?) and a
couple
of church organisations (Seventh Day Adventists and Mennonites, whose
acronyms
also escape me at the moment) have been involved in a number of
multi-million$
SB housing projects in Mongolia and northern China... cold climate regions
where
the superinsulation qualities of SB walls will help to significantly reduce
fuel
consumed for space heating, thereby bestowing the numerous benefits that are
reaped as a result.

In the case of Sri Lanka, it appears that the scenario would be closer to
that
of California, where the primary motivation for using straw is to reduce air
pollution by not burning the straw that is a byproduct of the rice growing
industry. I'm sure that the Californians on this List can speak more
knowledgably/accurately than I on this matter but I think that the impetus
to
promote the use of straw has come from the Rice Growers Association and SB
building enthusiasts rather than from aid agencies and govt.

I suspect that in order to introduce SB construction to Sri Lanka, it will
have
to be through private initiative... ie find a client or sponsor that is
willing
to build one... and then use that as a demonstration project to generate
interest.

I don't have any idea what the exchange rate for Sri Lankan currency is and
I
have no idea what your material costs might be, but I'm guessing that if you
make a credible case for SBC in the Sri Lankan climate and can provide the
humanpower to execute the building project, the financing could be arranged
through a fundraising project on this List, and it may be that groups like
Builders Without Borders or CASBA could be encouraged to provide some
teaching
materials.


--- * ---
Rob Tom
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
(remove the "chaff" from my edress if you hit "reply")

Please visit http://www.theHungerSite.com daily



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