Carbon-neutral extension commenced in Norfolk

Work has commenced on a carbon-neutral extension that uses straw bales for walls, it has been reported.

The work is being done for Helen Baczkowska, a conservation officer for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, who is even using straw from a local farm to collect her building material, according to the Diss Mercury.

To continue with the carbon-neutral theme, Ms Baczkowska is using a traditional horse and cart to transport the straw, which she claims to be "three times more insulating than current building regulations".

Miss Baczkowska said: "Straw is amazingly comfortable and we are using a product that is local and at the end of the day I end up with a home that is warmer and has cheaper energy bills."

The newspaper said that the company behind the renovation to the 19th century clay lump house is Designer Stubble.

Designer Stubble's Tom MacKeown suggested that the material is becoming more and more popular.

In America during the late 1800s, straw bale houses were built out of a necessity because of the scarcity of timber, according to sustainablebuild.co.uk.