Owner(s): Marianne and Harry Kits
Region: Greater Ottawa Area
Municipality: North Gower

Number of bedrooms: 2
Number of bathrooms: 1
Usable floor area, square feet (interior): 2175
Building footprint, square feet: 2300
Number of stories: 1
Occupancy date: May 2008
Cost per square foot and what that includes: Ball park: $96 square foot including garage. Does not include septic and well. Tons of sweat equity, including one of us full time for over a year.

Builder arrangement: Owner
Straw bale wall system subcontractor name: Tina Therrien
Straw bale wall system subcontractor company: Camel's Back
Plaster subcontractor name: Tina Therrien
Plaster subcontractor company: Camel's Back
Designer's name: John Kits
Designer's firm: BackPorch Design, Langley, BC
Structural engineer's name: Larry Argue
Structural engineer's firm: Burnside
Ease of obtaining a building permit: Somewhat difficult


Other roof system info: Hip


Other insulation materials used: polyurethane foam for wall penetrations

Straw type: Wheat


Other plasters used: third coat gypsum plaster by bare hands

Paints used on bale wall plaster: silicate paint

Mechanical systems info: electric boiler. Drilled well, HRV
Electrical systems info: grid
Other green features: Passive solar design: facing south, size and quality of windows around the house, adequate thermal mass. Very effective.
Anything else you'd like to share?: One bedroom and bathroom function as a guest/retreat space. Studio has a curved interior bale wall with small bottle windows and a shelf/mantel built through the wall. Stamped coloured concrete floor.