| |
|
Other
environmental benefits |
|
 |
| Straw is generally a waste product and
is mostly burnt by farmers, causing carbon dioxide production and hence
an increase in greenhouse gases. These gases are responsible for heating
up the planet's atmosphere.
Straw burning causes air pollution through smoke and particulate emission.
For example: |
| |
| • |
Every 1 million tons of straw
burned releases
56 000 tons of carbon dioxide. |
A reciprocal roof frame
|
| • |
In the USA 200 million tons of
waste straw are produced every year. |
| • |
Annual straw burning in California
alone produces more carbon dioxide and particulate than all the electric
power generating plants in the state combined. |
| |
| This air pollution has prompted
the California's Air Resources Board to initiate the process of prohibiting
this burning. |
| |
| Annual
Carbon Dioxide Production from Power Plants and Straw Burning (in Tons) |
| |
California (only) |
Tons Burned |
CO2 (tons)
|
|
| |
Rice straw |
1 000 000 |
56 000 |
|
| |
Wheat straw |
97 000 |
5 000 |
|
| |
Power plants |
25
000 |
-
|
|
| |
| —California
Agricultural Magazine, Vol. 45 #4 (July/Aug 1991) |
| |
| It is estimated that during one year in New
South Wales alone rice farmers burn over 600 000 tonnes of rice straw, releasing
30 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 2 000 tonnes of particulate directly
in to the atmosphere. |
| |
| Clearly the potential is enormous
|
| |
|
| • |
Using strawbales for building could be useful
in the effort to control global warming and atmospheric deterioration. |
| • |
Removal of straw from the rice fields would
substantially reduce methane emission from microbial decomposition. |
| • |
Building with straw could significantly reduce
the demand for native timber in houses so prevalent in the timber-consuming
construction methods of today. |
| • |
Strawbale building eradicates the need to
use paints and solvents that adversely affect the atmosphere and human health. |
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