The Tallest Little Straw Bale in Texas: An Eco-Friendly House With an Organic Atmosphere
(Page 3 of 3)
July/August 2003
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Both Ken and Joanne admit the home is still a bit larger than they intended—and if they could do it again, they’d make it smaller. “This is really more house than I need,” says Ken. “But maybe I’m just old—and tired.”
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Joanne is quick to point out, however, that because of the straw bales’ insulating qualities and the deep overhangs, the home uses less energy on average than a typical suburban tract home. In summer, hot air funnels up the tower and out the porthole window, often mitigating the need for air conditioning. Summer energy bills are always less than $200—about half that of a conventionally built house of the same size—for both the home and the guesthouse, which Joanne runs as a spa and bed-and-breakfast. In December, the area’s coldest month, the couple’s energy bills for both buildings average $135.
Good energy
When it came to finishing details, Joanne insisted that everything be healthy, nontoxic, and as environmentally friendly as possible. “There’s nothing toxic in this house—chemically or spiritually,” she says.
The couple chose cedar for ceilings, posts, and soffits because it grows like a weed in central Texas. The aromatic wood infused their home with a fresh scent, but after a while they felt like they were living in a gerbil’s nest. A coating of light latex sealer alleviated the smell. They used the same sealer for the earthen floors after their experiments with making sealer from cactus pods proved to be a slimy mess.
Joanne found her bathroom tile and Corian kitchen sink (the only plastic in the house) at the Austin Habitat for Humanity resale store. The countertops are poured cement, and the pine kitchen cabinets were handmade by a friend. An Irish cupboard from the 1830s is integrated into the kitchen design.
“I have a Celtic background, so there’s a lot of Celtic energy in this house,” says Joanne, who likes to reflect that heritage in the furnishings. She and Ken dine at a worn Irish trestle table, and she’s filled the house with family heirlooms, handmade furniture, and folk art. After the earthen floor was laid, she invited in Celtic dancers and a young girl performed an Irish blessing, “so that everyone who comes to the door will be greeted with a smile.”
Joanne also worked hard to balance the natural elements in the home, rife with wood, stone, and earth. The three fireplaces—one on the back porch—counterbalance the lake, and a koi pond in front mirrors it. The wind element moves through the house as air spirals up through the tower. “Most people pick up on the energy here,” she says. “They notice that it just feels different.”
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