carbon entering the atmosphere by 136 metric tons. China has the capacity to house 1 billion people in straw bale houses (Wanek, 2002). Straw bale building is labour-intensive but a fairly simple method, amenable to owner-build and do-it-yourself initiatives, although the number of professional straw bale contractors is growing rapidly. Bales can come in different sizes: a common two-string bale might be 18 in. wide, 14 in. high, and 35 to 40 in. long, and weigh 50 pounds. A three-string bale might be 24 in. wide, 14-17 in. high and 32 to 47 in. long, and weigh 75 to 100 pounds. Bales are usually stacked without any mortar right on top of each other and pinned with metal rods or bamboo sticks. They are finished with either cement stucco or earthen plaster, inside and out (Steen et al., 1994).