Where the charming new Bernese farmhouse now stands, there used to be an old farmhouse that could no longer be renovated due to its poor structural condition. Fortunately, the “new version” is nearly energy self-sufficient thanks to its solar roof and straw insulation. This remarkable achievement was recognized with a Solar Prize diploma in 2019.
Since prices skyrocket with thicker insulation, the architect turned to straw as a building material, which is unbeatable not only in terms of cost but also in terms of embodied energy and disposal. He also felt strongly that the walls of the cozy house should be plastered with clay: This material absorbs moisture and releases it again, so that despite the building’s airtight building envelope, no ventilation system is needed and a comfortable indoor atmosphere still prevails.
“We’ve installed 22 kilowatts of solar power capacity and 40 square meters of solar collectors on our roof,” explains homeowner Pierre Honsberger. The solar panels generate approximately 22,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The roof of the timber-framed farmhouse, which is insulated with 80-centimeter-thick straw bales, was covered with the Thun-based product MegaSlate® from 3S. Skylights and laminated glass, which let plenty of light into the building despite the large roof, also fit into the MegaSlate system.
It makes much more sense to use solar energy from our roofs and insulation materials from our fields than to send our money to Saudi Arabia for oil.
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