Construction

This passage discusses the usefulness of straw for construction.

Lexile Level: 1130L

Categories: Science & Technology

Anyone who remembers the story of "The Three Little Pigs" knows that building a house out of straw was a bad idea. But in real life, building a house out of straw can be a very good idea and for a lot of reasons. Straw bales are relatively inexpensive, they are easy to build with, and they provide a lot of insulation. The building process consists of stacking the bales, securing the rows of bales with stakes of wood or bamboo, and then covering the bales with concrete mortar or stucco. Openings for windows and doors are usually made from wood. Straw bale construction is environmentally friendly. Because it has few other uses, two hundred million tons of straw is burned every year. Using this natural resource in construction helps reduce the air pollution that results when straw is burned. With so many advantages, it's no wonder straw bale construction is growing in popularity.