Strawbale Energy Lab | Northland College

Sustainability

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Home / Sustainability / Green Buildings / Strawbale Energy Lab

Strawbale Energy Demonstration Lab

A strawbale design workshop was conducted during the winter semester of 1998. Then, during May term, several students built the structure to model a building that operates off of the electrical grid; constructed entirely of locally produced materials. This building is now the home of the Sunshine Community Bike Shoppe.

Sustainability Features

Straw bales provide super insulation, ceiling insulated with cellulose from recycled newspapers
All south facing windows to capture passive solar heating
Off-the-grid with no connection to other power sources
1 kilowatt wind generator and three 75-watt solar photovoltaic panels supply electricity to the building's batteries
In-floor heat through four hot water solar panels

Learn about our sustainability initiatives:

Want to learn more?
Contact the Sustainability Office by calling (715) 682-1492 or email nengstrom@northland.edu.