During January 2007, straw-bale construction in Greater Cleveland got a big boost of exposure with the building of the home of Jan and Gus Kious at 12541 Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Heights. The Kious's turned the project into a community barn raising by inviting dozens of volunteers to help assemble the walls of the house, and the event attracted a great deal of media attention.

The Kious's four-bedroom house is the first straw-bale insulated home in Cuyahoga County. Other green building features will include air sealing spray insulation, engineered wood using recycled waste wood, triple-glass windows, porous paving for stormwater infiltration, salvaged building materials, heat recovery system, low-energy water heating, energy-efficient lighting, and location in a walkable neighborhood near shopping and entertainment. Firms involved in the design and construction include Doty & Miller Architects, Lekic Corporation, and HarvestBuild Associates.

"This home celebrates the natural balance that is possible between the natural and man-made environment and helps preserve resources for future generations," says a flyer the Kiouses are distributing. "Over the next 40 years, the number of new homes and other buildings to be constructed in the U.S. is expected to equal the number already built. About half of the natural resources required for a home are in its initial construction, and the other half is in its operation and maintenance. This home is an example of responsible selections for both."

Below are more photos of the Kious house under construction — and more resources about straw-bale construction. We'll update this page in the spring when the weather is warm enough for the walls of the Kious house to be covered with a protective adobe coating of clay, lime, and sand.

Local resources
HarvestBuild Associates
Fox Natural Building

Other resources
Strawbale.com
7 reasons to build with straw bales
Department of Energy Building Technologies Program
The Natural House

More photos at Doty & Miller Architects.