<div> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good idea!<br>
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David<br>
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-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Graeme North <graeme@ecodesign.co.nz><br>
To: (private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network <GSBN@greenbuilder.com><br>
Cc: Andrew Alcorn <jandrew.alcorn@gmail.com><br>
Sent: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 2:53 pm<br>
Subject: Re: [GSBN] Embodied energy comparisons: SB vs Stick-built<br>
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<div>Dear all</div>
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I suggest that Andrew Alcorn be added to this list - he has been involved in earth and strawbale building research and design for many years and is one of the few researchers I know of who is delving deeply into this embodied and related energy stuff in buildings
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<div>In addition it will save me forwarding on loads of emails to him, and his replies to you</div>
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<div>cheers</div>
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<div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div>Graeme</div>
<div>Graeme North Architects</div>
<div>49 Matthew Road</div>
<div>RD1</div>
<div>Warkworth</div>
<div>tel/fax +64 (0)9 4259305</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="mailto:graeme@ecodesign.co.nz">graeme@ecodesign.co.nz</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.ecodesign.co.nz" target="_blank">www.ecodesign.co.nz</a></div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div>
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<div>
<div>On 17/02/2009, at 8:39 AM, Derek Roff wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">
<div style="margin: 0px;">How about a more abstract one:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">Is this the best use of this material?</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Are we diverting/consuming a material from some other more important use?</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">This is sort of the flip side of recycling- removing things from the market that have other uses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The poster child for this kind of dilemma is crude oil.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Oil pundits like to say it has a million different uses, from pharmaceuticals to fertilizers to building materials.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Instead, we burn 99% of it, getting the lowest possible use from an amazing material.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">Right now, I look on ethanol this way.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>To produce a marginal (perhaps negative) energy source, we have impacted food supply and general wealth and health in Mexico among other places.</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">I don't have an example in mind for this kind of misuse of a material as it relates to the building industry.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Perhaps others can suggest one.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">Derelict</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">--On Monday, February 16, 2009 11:01 AM -0800 John Swearingen <<a href="mailto:jswearingen@skillful-means.com">jswearingen@skillful-means.com</a>> wrote:</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<blockquote type="cite">
<div style="margin: 0px;">Ok, since we've decided that embodied energy is of less or equal</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">significance as life-cycle energy use, I would suggest that any</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">materials or forms of construction be evaluated on at least these</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">areas:</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Does the material contribute structurally</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Does the material contribute thermally (insulation)</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Does the material provide thermal storage (mass)</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Does the material provide fire safety</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Does the material contribute to the local economy</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? What are the manufacturing environmental costs</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? What are the transportation and wastage environmental costs</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Is the material a by-product, waste-product, or recycled</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Is the material bio-degradable, recyclable or land-fill</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? Is the material toxic in manufacture, use or disposal</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>? What is the expected life-span of the system (resistance to</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">environmental damage)</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Feel free to add.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">John</div>
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<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">Derek Roff</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Language Learning Center</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">University of New Mexico</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">Internet: <a href="mailto:derek@unm.edu">derek@unm.edu</a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">_______________________________________________</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">GSBN mailing list</div>
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<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>_______________________________________________<br>
GSBN mailing list<br>
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<a href="http://greenbuilder.com/mailman/listinfo/GSBN" target="_blank">http://greenbuilder.com/mailman/listinfo/GSBN</a><br>
</tt></pre>
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