ProjectS.T.R.A.W.

Saving Today’s Resources in Awesome Ways

What are we doing?

• We are building a passive solar,

strawbale house. We hope it can be

completed in 2012.

Joe Ferut, Architect

Mark Hoberecht, Natural Builder are

overseeing the project.

Why are we doing it?

• We are committed to educating and inspiring the people of Seneca County and beyond to consider a passive strawbale house as an affordable, beautiful, energy efficient, natural and sustainable way to build.

• Little Portion Green will demonstrate many alternative ways of using our natural resources in a responsible way that reflects our love for the earth.

• Our goal is to reach net zero energy ( we will not use any more energy that we produce).

Architect rendering of Little Portion Green

Here’s how it looks now – November, 2011

• We’ve come a long way – notice turbine

Features

Passive solar design Large windows are facing south Low e, triple pane windows solar power ERV system – Energy Recovery Ventilation

Hybrid electric heat pump water heater LED lighting Recycled materials: insulation (straw, millcell), counter-tops,

roof, re-use railings and interior doors from convent

low flow toilets LEED certified home Most up to date energy efficient appliances Rain garden utilizing water runoff from roof Interior finish – earth plaster (clay, sand) Permaculture landscaping

Passive solar – winter/summer

ERV System – ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION

Harvest Build

• The plan for Little Portion Green

Looking in at our innovations…

• Windows

• Water heater

• Solar panels

• Insulation

WindowsLoewen windows – manufactured in Canada,

sold in Toledo, Ohio

Heat Smart T.XT•Triple glazed,• two layers of low e coatings •two ½” air spaces with argon gas

may have one German made (Optiwin) window for demonstration purposes

The latest in water heatersan electric heat pump water heater

A compressor and evaporator is integrated into the water heater. The evaporator draws in ambient heat from the surrounding air using two variable speed fans. Electric coils wrap the tank all the way to the bottom to transfer this heat into the tank and heat the water.

An electronic back-lit LCD display at eye level lets you adjust temperature settings easily.

Powered by PV panels

Reduces water heating operating cost up to 62% saving up to $320 per year

MillcellMillcell - AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY using 100% recycled glass bottles

Millcell is now manufactured in Germany. It will be produced in the U.S. The first

plant will be located in Central Ohio, with the promise of more plants in Ohio.

Little Portion Green will be the first project in North America to use this product.

Millcell made it all the way and is now installed in Little Portion Green

Why solar?

Electricity demand has more than doubled since 1970 and is expected to quadruple by 2030.

More than 85% of the energy consumed in the U.S. comes from fossil fuels.

Solar panels generate no emissions of greenhouse gases or other pollutants, thereby reducing global climate impacts.

Solar electric panels operate silently because they have no moving parts. The life expectancy of a typical system is 40-50 years.

Compare this with coal

• In 2006, the U.S. emitted 2.12 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (25% of the world’s emissions).

• Worldwide coal supplies 40% of all electricity, but accounts for over 70% of the carbon dioxide emissions of the electrical sector.

• James Hansen, acclaimed climatologist, says that to sustain the level of civilization we have now, we need to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to below 350 ppm. Currently it stands at 387 ppm (parts per million).

• The Arctic is melting• The pH of the oceans as changed dramatically.

Clean coal?

• “Clean coal,” the industry’s new icon, represents an imprecise term describing ways to reduce the environmental impact of coal-based electricity.

• Most often the term refers to the process of carbon capture & sequestration, where carbon dioxide is pumped into underground caverns and stored.

• Carbon sequestration has not been demonstrated on a commercial scale at any coal-fired power plant.

• The costs & lack of investment in the technology cast doubts about its economic viability even by 2020.

Mountain top removal - blasting

Mountaintop removal

Building with Strawbales

•

Traditional Strawbale

Load Bearing

Post and Beam

Chapel of the Nativity, Spencer, WV

traditional strawbale construction

Little Portion Green is not a traditional strawbale house

• Strict passive house principles from the passivhaus institute in Germany are being applied to our passive house.

• The strawbales are being used as insulation only.

…as of February, 2011

Progress made……………..

• footer

and then more progress

Last December 1, 2010 all tucked away for winter

window framing

• special framing of the windows will allow a clay and straw mix (cobb) to be applied inside the framing.

• This guarantees air tight insulation as well as the beauty of rounded edges around the windows.

we move inside

working with straw

Strawbale Workshop 1

applying clay plaster

The first 2 coats consist of

2 pts. sand and

1 pt. clay

The finish coat consists of

2 pts. clay and

1 pt. sand with a

colorant added.

Volunteersa community endeavor

• We are depending on volunteer labor, working with a general contractor and experienced builders, all of whom are volunteers.

• We value the educational experience received and the enthusiasm generated as we engage a variety of folks in this innovative and exciting project.

•Money

this too is a community endeavor**need to sell 300 bales at $100

each*grants and larger donations

Truth window

• a truth window, when opened, shows that straw actually is inside the walls

• our truth window will reveal the names of all those who donated $100 or more to the project.

Special Thanks to:

• National Machinery Foundation• Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin• OSS Solid Waste District• Fostoria Foundation• Kneeskern Family Foundation• David & Gail Steinmetz Tithing Fund• Arthur Friemoth Estate• Republic Lumber• Clouse Construction – Sean Walker• Andy Schroeder, electrician• Ken Schroth, plumber• Volunteers: Mike Brown, Mike Reimer, Mark DeBarbrie, Pat Simeon, Milt

Gibson, Ron Ruffing, Rick Swartz, Dave Swartz, • The hundreds of people who have donated to this project. • All the people who have served on the committees relating to Project Straw.

– WANT TO BE ON THIS LIST? CALL FELC – 419-448-7485

Dreams become a realitywhen we all work together

Check us out: http://felc.sfctiffin.org/sfc-spirit/project-straw/