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Hi All<br>
<br>
I'm writing because I have a few questions to ask. First a little
background<br>
<br>
There is the possibility that Fort Hood (US Army Base near Killeen TX -
climatic data below) will build a 4 story 120000 LEED Platinum straw
bale facility with a living roof and a helipad. <br>
<br>
The person who is trying to get the funding is sold on jumbo bales. I
feel it's my obligation to recommend the best overall system for the
project. <br>
<br>
Because of our extremely moderate winters here (there are many years
where the total yearly amount of time we have temp below freezing is
measured in hours-often under 24 hours of actual below freezing temp
per year) I'm not certain if the Army is getting the best bang for
their buck with the extra cost. I think they probably will but the
question is how long will it take.<br>
<br>
Also, the concept is a non-conditioned space. In this climate the heat
load generated by 1200 people (120,000 divided by 1:100 occupant load),
plus the interior humidity level would (I believe) require an HVAC
system regardless of the wall's insulation factor. Does anyone have any
experience in this-again for a similar climate?<br>
<br>
Finally there is a structural question. When I heard 4-story,
120,000.00 s.f. w/ a living roof and heli-pad I immediately assumed a
recycled steel structure. The funding agent is proposing testing to see
if the jumbo bales can support the roof. Frankly I seriously doubt that
the Army would go along w/ load bearing straw supporting a heli-pad but
who knows.<br>
<br>
So.. does anyone out there have any performance data based on a
climate that is similar to this one for jumbo bales that they are
willing to share?<br>
<br>
The same goes for structural data on what a 4'(w) x 3'(h) x 8'(l) bale
can hold up.<br>
<br>
Here are the heating and cooling degree day averages for the last 5
years plus a brief summary of the historical averages. Any advice would
be greatly appreciated.<br>
<br>
Thank You<br>
<br>
Ben Obregon<br>
Austin TX<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Temperatures range from an average high of 96° in July to an average
low of 36° in January. Rainfall averages thirty-four inches a year; the
average relative humidity is 82 percent at 6 a.m. and 52 percent at 6
p.m., and the growing season averages 258 days annually<br>
<br>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96pt;" border="0"
cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="128">
<col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64"> <tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" height="20" width="64">Description:</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Farenheit-based
5-year-average (2004 to 2008) cooling degree days for a base
temperature of 65F</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Source:</td>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.degreedays.net">www.degreedays.net</a> (using temperature data from
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.wunderground.com">www.wunderground.com</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Accuracy:</td>
<td>No problems detected</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Station:</td>
<td>Airport: Fort Hood, TX, US (97.83W,31.07N)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Station ID:</td>
<td>KGRK</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><br>
</td>
<td><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><br>
</td>
<td>CDD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jan</td>
<td align="right">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Feb</td>
<td align="right">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Mar</td>
<td align="right">81</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Apr</td>
<td align="right">150</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">May</td>
<td align="right">306</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jun</td>
<td align="right">469</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jul</td>
<td align="right">544</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Aug</td>
<td align="right">574</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Sep</td>
<td align="right">407</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Oct</td>
<td align="right">231</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Nov</td>
<td align="right">77</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Dec</td>
<td align="right">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Total</td>
<td align="right">2923</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96pt;" border="0"
cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="128">
<col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64"> <tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" height="20" width="64">Description:</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Farenheit-based
5-year-average (2004 to 2008) heating degree days for a base
temperature of 65F</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Source:</td>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.degreedays.net">www.degreedays.net</a> (using temperature data from
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.wunderground.com">www.wunderground.com</a>)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Accuracy:</td>
<td>No problems detected</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Station:</td>
<td>Airport: Fort Hood, TX, US (97.83W,31.07N)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Station ID:</td>
<td>KGRK</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><br>
</td>
<td><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><br>
</td>
<td>HDD</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jan</td>
<td align="right">498</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Feb</td>
<td align="right">407</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Mar</td>
<td align="right">205</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Apr</td>
<td align="right">109</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">May</td>
<td align="right">27</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jun</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Jul</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Aug</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Sep</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Oct</td>
<td align="right">76</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Nov</td>
<td align="right">236</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Dec</td>
<td align="right">480</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Total</td>
<td align="right">2046</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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