Our responsibility as citizens is to raise our voice.

What to do...

If you have expertise in straw bale building and would like to participate in the City of Gatineau working group on straw bale structures to be formed in July, either as a witness or as a member of the working group, send an e-mail expressing your interest to Eric Boutet (boutet.eric@ville.gatineau.qc.ca) with copies to Simon Racine, Counsellor and President of the Comité consultatif d'urbanisme (CCU) (racine.simon@ville.gatineau.qc.ca), Pierre Philion, Counsellor and Vice-President of the CCU (philion.pierre@ville.gatineau.qc.ca), Richard Jennings, Counsellor and member of the CCU (jennings.richard@ville.gatineau.qc.ca) as well as Chantal and Jay (gatineau-paille@flora.org) so that we can follow up with the City (thus, CC to: racine.simon@ville.gatineau.qc.ca; philion.pierre@ville.gatineau.qc.ca; jennings.richard@ville.gatineau.qc.ca; gatineau-paille@flora.org).

If you would simply like to be added to our mailing list and be available to help out in any future required actions, please send us an e-mail at gatineau-paille@flora.org. We will let you know of any new developments.

As well, if you have any ideas for people who might be interested in our campaign or the working group, we encourage you to contact them and forward them this information.


 

  • Straw bale homes are one of the best examples of construction promoting sustainable development.
  • Straw bale homes enable the use of a primary material that would likely otherwise be burned, thus increasing CO2 emissions.
  • Straw is a renewable material; it is natural and healthy and does not emit volatile organic compounds.
  • Straw has an exceptional insulation factor (minimum R-28, but generally R-40+, compared with about R-14 for "traditional" construction), which makes the building warm in winter and cool in summer, thus limiting energy costs.
  • Straw bale homes burn less quickly than traditional homes.
  • Straw bale homes have a proven durability.  Many straw bale homes built around the turn of the 19th century are still lived in today.
  • Straw bale homes harbour a deep beauty and an eloquent and quaint style with their thick, plastered walls.
  • Straw bale homes resist humidity well.
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More detailed and technical information on straw bale construction can be found from the websites listed under Useful Links.

To contact us:


gatineau-paille@flora.org