They may soon also be able to brag their outbuilding started a revolution in building design and construction.

The building is being made out of a blend of soybean based polyol- a plasticized soy based product- and a petroleum-based product. It is created through a process that blends these two ingredients by turning them into a foam that hardens into a one-foot-high, two-foot-long block of high-density material that its inventor hopes will make home building easier, more affordable and more earth-friendly. It is the only building of its kind in the world.

"It's a new system of site produced, soy-based polyurethane insulated concrete form," explained Don Duffy, the Lancaster entrepreneur who invented what he is tentatively calling EMEGA Blok. He has a patent pending.

He said the blocks are joined together to form walls by using traditional post and beam construction, only the posts are cylinders of concrete poured into the openings in the center of the blocks, and long metal re-bar type rods inserted into the concrete and the blocks. The blocks are sturdy and can be stuccoed or veneered with brick or siding.

The blocks take the place of exterior studs and insulation. The creamy yellow rectangles that resemble children's toys have an insulation value of R-40 to R-50. They have a class-2 fire rating due to a flame retardant that is added when the blocks are made.

Duffy emphasized that the blocks weigh only a couple of pounds and are put together with simple construction. They could provide a new form of low-cost housing, and a boost to the agriculture industry as well. Made partly of soybeans, they are environmentally sustainable as well.

"The soy-based blocks are made from a renewable resource - soybeans are a major crop in Ohio. The blocks are comparable in price to traditional home construction, and are easy to work with," Duffy said. "My goal is to create a building system for the gray area of home ownership. This could be used for adequate homes that are also environmentally friendly."

CAO Associate Planner David Michael watched as Duffy and two assistants out blocks in place.

"He's very innovative and progressive," Michael said. "We're happy he is trying this in Ironton. It's an exciting project."

Michael said when the outbuilding is finished, the CAO hopes to have a special showing for state, federal and local officials.