Straw Bale SAFE Homes Initiative

Sustainable, Affordable and Efficient Homes

GreenWeaver is proud to have been a partner since 2006 in the development of the Straw Bale S.A.F.E. Homes Initiative as a consultant to the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (Intertribal COUP) and as curriculum designer and instructor.

Intertribal COUP envisions a future that puts Tribes on the leading edge of true sustainability, a future in which Tribes can depend on their own natural resources and their own trained workforce to address the critical triple bottom line for Sustainable, Affordable and Efficient Homes.

The SAFE Homes Initiative builds local sustainable housing capacity through a Train The Trainer Program in tribal colleges and universities. Beginning in 2008, the program began offering the first university level tribal straw bale building courses through Sinte Gleska University at the Rosebud Indian Reservation and United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, North Dakota. A straw bale house demonstration project has been built during lab courses which will house the office for Sinte Gleska University’s Bison Ranch Program.

The program partners are grateful to the Department of Interior’s Indian Office of Energy and Economic Development (IEED) as well as the South Dakota Community Foundation and the Untours Foundation for funding and support.

For more information about this program and how your tribal college, housing authority or other organization can participate,

contact us or http://intertribalcoup.org/