Straw Bale Construction 101

Matt Risinger sits down with Jacob Racusin of New Frameworks to unpack how straw-based construction fits into modern high-performance building. Racusin reframes “straw bale” as a panelized wall system using straw and wood fiber as insulation within airtight assemblies, emphasizing durability, moisture management, and prefabrication. The conversation moves from the history of straw construction to its evolution into factory-built panels that meet passive house–level performance. They discuss cost, scalability, and shifting from custom design-build to standardized housing solutions, positioning bio-based materials as part of a broader strategy for energy efficiency, resilience, and streamlined construction.

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