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<TITLE>Re: [GSBN] Jumbo Bale Question</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Hey Ben,<BR>
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What an exciting and interesting project. Keep me posted and please do share an article for TLS when it’s appropriate, won’t you?<BR>
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I’ve sent email and left messages for you in the past months and haven’t heard back. Are you receiving the emails and calls? Just wondering if I have the right contact information for you or what’s the best way to get in touch.<BR>
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Emails were about State Farm, the professional guild, your progress with the Texas SB Association revival, etc.<BR>
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Hope to hear back,<BR>
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Joyce<BR>
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Joyce Coppinger<BR>
Managing Editor/Publisher<BR>
The Last Straw, the international journal<BR>
of strawbale and natural building<BR>
PO Box 22706, Lincoln NE 68542-2706<BR>
402.483.5135, fax 402.483.5161<BR>
<thelaststraw@thelaststraw.org><BR>
www.thelaststraw.org<BR>
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on 5/4/09 4:37 PM, Ben at bobregon@austin.rr.com wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Hi All<BR>
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I'm writing because I have a few questions to ask. First a little background<BR>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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The same goes for structural data on what a 4'(w) x 3'(h) x 8'(l) bale can hold up.<BR>
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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>
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Thank You<BR>
<BR>
Ben Obregon<BR>
Austin TX<BR>
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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>
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Description: Farenheit-based 5-year-average (2004 to 2008) cooling degree days for a base temperature of 65F <BR>
Source: www.degreedays.net <a href="http://www.degreedays.net"><http://www.degreedays.net></a> (using temperature data from www.wunderground.com <a href="http://www.wunderground.com"><http://www.wunderground.com></a> ) <BR>
Accuracy: No problems detected <BR>
Station: Airport: Fort Hood, TX, US (97.83W,31.07N) <BR>
Station ID: KGRK <BR>
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CDD <BR>
Jan 25 <BR>
Feb 29 <BR>
Mar 81 <BR>
Apr 150 <BR>
May 306 <BR>
Jun 469 <BR>
Jul 544 <BR>
Aug 574 <BR>
Sep 407 <BR>
Oct 231 <BR>
Nov 77 <BR>
Dec 30 <BR>
Total 2923 <BR>
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Description: Farenheit-based 5-year-average (2004 to 2008) heating degree days for a base temperature of 65F <BR>
Source: www.degreedays.net <a href="http://www.degreedays.net"><http://www.degreedays.net></a> (using temperature data from www.wunderground.com <a href="http://www.wunderground.com"><http://www.wunderground.com></a> ) <BR>
Accuracy: No problems detected <BR>
Station: Airport: Fort Hood, TX, US (97.83W,31.07N) <BR>
Station ID: KGRK <BR>
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HDD <BR>
Jan 498 <BR>
Feb 407 <BR>
Mar 205 <BR>
Apr 109 <BR>
May 27 <BR>
Jun 0 <BR>
Jul 0 <BR>
Aug 0 <BR>
Sep 8 <BR>
Oct 76 <BR>
Nov 236 <BR>
Dec 480 <BR>
Total 2046 <BR>
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