Re the comment below, unless the straw is grown without the assistance of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, or for than matter any farm machinery, fossil fuel is also playing its part. But straw has its merits for being a fast growing (native) renewable resource.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Robert Riversong

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:21 PM

Subject: [VGBNTALK] not natural building products?

--- On Wed, 12/10/08, Michelle Smith Mullarkey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Fossil fuel is still used to manufacture and transport the majority of green building products (not natural building products such as straw bales)...

I'm afraid that fossil fuels are used for the production of most straw and since some of it is coming from Canada, there's also transportation costs. "Natural" building materials are not necessarily immune from the environmental costs of other materials.