Region: Peterborough
Municipality: Buckhorn

Usable floor area, square feet (interior): 2300
Number of stories: two
Occupancy date: 2005
Cost per square foot and what that includes: About $55 not including energy systems, $75 including energy systems

Main contractor company: Onwer
Designer's name: Owner
Structural engineer's name: Bruce Grant
Length of time to build (start to occupancy): 7 months to move in, another 7 months is the target for finishing the details
Volunteer participation: Family and friends have been very, very generous with their time (especially, my brother Bill)

Other foundation info: Slab on grade (elevated the slab approx. 3 feet to get drainage to septic), 18 inch footings for bale walls, 12 inch footings for interior load bearing walls

Other roof system info: roof system was engineered by Living Design Systems. grain bin roof modified for residential

Other insulation materials used: Roxul underwindow bucks, 4 inches of styrofoam under slab, 12 inches of blown-in cellulose in roof

Other bale wall style info: bales laid flat, curved walls, load-bearing. Walls not pinned, mesh used only at interface of wood and straw, inside walls are staw bale as well as regular 2x4 stick walls.
Other plasters used: 2 coats structural stucco, 1 coat finish stucco with pigment. Lime/cement plaster.

Other information about windows: 18 wide bucks made from 2x6 and 3/4" plywood; features a bank of 12 large windows on the south side of the house for passive solar gain; windows are fiberglas frame, krypton filled, with a variety of coatings and thickness depending on orientation (north, south, etc.)
Mechanical systems info: Heat source: solar flat plate collectors and a thermal storage area. Septic tank, use of dual flush toilets.
Electrical systems info: solar / wind
Other green features: Off-grid, cylindrical house with metal grain bin roof, use of passive solar gain and solar heat collection and thermal storage, radiant floor heat. Rain water collected in a cistern and filtered and UV treated on site