The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recently hosted an international study tour in China, demonstrating the benefits of straw-bale housing. The study tour visited ADRA’s straw-bale project site in Tangyuan County, Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China.

More than two dozen experts in sustainable development and construction attended the weeklong study tour held this past summer. Tour participants, who hailed from 20 countries, received training in managerial and technical aspects of straw-bale building technology. Participants also received firsthand experience in straw-bale construction techniques, helping to build the walls for a new home at the project site. In addition, each expert gave a presentation about his or her organization’s work in sustainable development—a valuable study tour requirement designed to enhance the knowledge base of fellow participants.

ADRA China earned the honor of hosting the international study tour after receiving the 2005 World Habitat Award last October. The award, presented by the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF), is given each year to an organization that demonstrates practical and innovative solutions to current housing needs and problems. BSHF, headquartered in the United Kingdom, cosponsored the study tour with One World Design Architecture (based in Spokane, Washington), and the Heilongjiang Provincial Construction Department.

“The ADRA straw-bale study tour is one of the most successful study tours we have hosted in the past twenty years,” commented Diane Diacon, director of the Building and Social Housing Foundation.

Straw-bale buildings were first constructed on the cold and treeless plains of North America about 100 years ago, and the construction technique has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.

Straw-bale buildings have gained popularity in large part because of their superior soundproofing and insulation, which makes them more economical and up to 68 percent more energy efficient than conventional homes. Straw-bale buildings also help maintain comfortable indoor air temperature and humidity and produce less carbon dioxide than their brick or mud counterparts. Straw-bale structures can last for more than 100 years and are naturally earthquake resistant, which make them attractive housing options in earthquake-prone areas.

ADRA China’s straw-bale housing project began in 1998. To date, over 600 straw bale homes and three schools have been built for residents of rural villages in Tangyuan County. An estimated 3,000 people have directly benefited from the project.

ADRA was the first non-governmental organization (NGO) to use the straw-bale building technique in a development context. The first organization to introduce this technology in China, ADRA and the straw-bale project’s success have gained recognition among building contractors, architects, and NGOs around the world.

ADRA China is currently working with the provincial level Rural Construction Bureau to create construction blueprints for five model straw-bale homes. When finished, the blueprints will be distributed in rural areas throughout the province. “The project’s goal is to transfer the straw-bale technology to Chinese builders, who will then build architecturally sound structures without external technical assistance,” said Linda Zhu, programs director for ADRA China.

ADRA has been active in the People’s Republic of China since 1988. ADRA China works to alleviate poverty, increase ecological sustainability, and improve access to basic education and adult training in practical skills and income generation.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.