A new breed of eco-house is making its presence felt throughout the UK. And although there is less than 100 of them nationwide two are located in East Oxford, with a third currently under construction.

Not only is this kind of dwelling cheaper to build, it is made from a waste product and is soundproof and super insulated, therefore vastly reducing heating requirements and Co2 emissions. In fact, these buildings can actually contribute to a net decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Straw bale building is the latest eco-phenonemon to reach our shores, and while it sounds strange and even a little insane, make no mistake, this is no new-fangled craze.

Straw bale buildings were first constructed in the US in the 1800s, but the advent of cement meant the technique all but died out.

Now, as with the revival of vegtable oil as fuel, a straw bale revival is afoot, and its benefits seem almost too good to be true.

The latest Oxford straw bale building is being constructed at the Beehive Cowley, a Restore service which offers creative work rehabilitation and training for people experiencing mental health problems.

Here, under the leadership of Ruth Walker, a garden designer and straw bale building expert, a six by 11-metre garden workshop is being built.

"As a building material straw is cost efficient and environmentally sustainable," said Ruth, an Australian who has been living in Oxford for six years. "They are proven to be structurally sound and fireproof and you can build a straw house for yourself."

Ruth completed a straw bale building course last September. She said:"I worked on a straw bale house in Wales about three or four years ago and it was the most beautiful thing," she said.

"Now, with my background in garden design and experience with straw bale building I have been able to co-ordinate this project."

Although Ruth designed the dwelling, she is keen to point out it is a team effort.

"There are six of us working on it most days, and we also have volunteer days where people from the community come and help - one day we had up to 35 people helping out."

Not only is straw bale building great for the environment as well as being renewable it turns carbon dioxide into oxygen it brings the community together.

"It is a fabulous way for people with mental health problems to get together and be part of an exciting eco-project it has instilled such confidence in the people working on it," said Ruth.

So far the straw bale building has utilised 130 used tyres, a huge amount of waste cardboard for the foundations, and the timber frame used is also from recylced wood.

So, while it can be a messy and protracted process this project is taking six months it is well worth it, Ruth said.

"If you can do this yourself it will cost about one third of what it would have otherwise, but not only that, these buildings are incredibly good heat and sound insulators."

She added: "We don't have the roof on yet and already we can't hear each other over the walls!"

Although approximately 1,000 straw bale buildings are being constructed annually throughout the world, including two recording studios in the US, they are still considered to be unconventional. But perhaps it is time we moved away from the limiting stereotypes of 20th century building methods.

Cowley accupuncturist Vivien Shaw works from a straw bale house she built in her garden, and she cannot see any drawbacks.

"For me it was about working with a natural resource in an alternative way and it was something I could do myself," said Vivien.

"And it is a drastically different experience from an ordinary house, all the walls are curved, it is warm, safe and cosy and just feels different."

Vivien's eco-house took ten months to build with materials costing £5,500 all labour was free. She recommends the straw bale experience, but does she think it is something that could become mainstream?

"Practically, I think it could. They are a wonderful buildings to live in and you have everything that you'd have in your ordinary home. It challenges people's perceptions of what normal' is."

When you consider that over 50 per cent of all greenhouse gases are produced by the construction industry and the transportation associated with it, and that four million tonnes of straw are produced surplus to requirements each year in the UK alone, then maybe it doesn't sound so crazy after all.