STRAW BALES, A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR HYGRO-THERMALLY COMFORTABLE DWELLINGS IN CHILE’S CENTRAL VALLEY: PHYSICAL TEST CHAMBERS AND IN SITU MEASUREMENTS

作     者：Christopher J.Whitman 

作者机构：Laboratorio de Energía e IluminaciónFacultad de ArquitecturaArte y DiseñoUniversidad Andres BelloCampus Casona de Las CondesFernández Concha 700Las CondesSantiago de Chile 

出 版 物：《Journal of Green Building》 (绿色建筑学报（英文）)

年 卷 期：2014年第9卷第2期

页      面：161-181页

学科分类：09[农学] 0903[农学-农业资源与环境] 090301[农学-土壤学] 

主　　题：straw bale hygro-thermal comfort residential energy efficiency Chile 

摘      要：Dwellings in a Mediterranean climate, such as that of Chile’s Central Valley, must provide hygro-thermal comfort both during the cold winters, and the hot days and cool summer nights. Straw, once a material common in Chile’s indigenous and vernacular architecture, could meet these demands when coupled with sufficient thermal mass in the form of earth renders and floor finishes. This article presents measurements of dry bulb temperatures and relative humidity, both in physical test chambers and Chilean straw bale homes. The results of these measurements confirm that straw bale construction could provide hygro-thermal comfort with heating demands 28% less than those of constructions that meet the Chilean thermal building regulations. Straw bale, therefore, could provide a viable solution for comfortable, energy efficient, rural dwellings in Chile’s Central Valley. Whilst over 40 private straw bale projects have been completed in Chile to date, restrictions applying to projects receiving government subsidies prevent this technology being available to those who need it most.