# Sturdy Green Housing Sustainable Straw Bales Survive Earthquake Test By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-04-12 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sturdy-green-housing-sustainable-straw-bale-construction-survives-earthquak References: [ccnmag](http://www.ccnmag.com/article/straw_bale_house_survives_violent_earthquake) & [paksbab.org](http://www.paksbab.org/) [University of Nevada](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cob-brick), Reno used their earthquake simulation table to subject a straw house designed and built by civil engineer Darcey Donovan to an 82-ton-force, but the straw house would not come down. The March 27th test subject was a full-scale, 200 SF straw house, including a [gravel foundation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/capuchinas-house) and [clay plaster walls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heal-home-hmm). It was subjected forces more than twice the greatest ground acceleration ever measured. In the end, Donovan’s house cracked at the seams and sent out a small cloud of dust, but it remained standing. Donovan is founder/CEO of the non-profit Pakistan Straw Bale and Appropriate Building (PAKSBAB) organization. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 27% | Activity: 90% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sustainable Straw Housing:** Incorporating straw bales in construction for earthquake-resistant buildings. - **Green Building Materials:** Exploring eco-friendly materials like clay plaster for resilient structures. - **Disaster-resilient Housing:** Developing innovative building techniques to withstand natural disasters like earthquakes. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Construction:** Opportunity for construction companies to integrate sustainable materials and practices. - **Architecture:** Architects can innovate by designing earthquake-resistant structures using unconventional materials like straw bales. - **Non-profit Sector:** Non-profit organizations can promote and support the use of sustainable building techniques to help communities in disaster-prone areas. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cob Building Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobbauge-house.md) - [Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/essential-homes.md) - [3D-Printed Sturdy Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobod.md) - [Earthened Wall Campuses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rwanda-institute-for-conservation-agriculture.md) - [Modular Bamboo Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bamboo-housing.md) - [Locally Sourced Angular Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/straw-flea-house.md) - [Climatic Resilient Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/west-don-ravine-passive-house.md) - [Low-Carbon Biomaterial Bricks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cob-brick.md) - [Fire-Safe 3d Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verovistas.md)