House of straw stands firm in trial by earthquake

摘要

Cheap houses built from straw bales could dramatically improve building safety in earthquake zones. That's the conclusion from tests in the US in which a simple straw bale house withstood shaking equivalent to a major earthquake. rnOriginally developed a century ago in Nebraska, homes with straw-bale walls are enjoying a revival in the US and Europe because they use green materials and provide excellent insulation. But the technology could also provide protection in quakes.