<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">David, that's about what I thought, what do you think about the likelihood of bale walls meeting the 0.6 standard?<div>Dan<br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div>.......................................................</div><div>Dan Smith </div><div>Principal - DSA Architects</div><div>1107 Virginia St.</div><div>Berkeley, CA 94702</div><div>510.526.1935 x101</div><div>510.526.1961 fax</div><div><a href="mailto:dan@dsaarch.com">dan@dsaarch.com</a></div><div><a href="http://www.dsaarch.com">www.dsaarch.com</a></div></div></div></span> </div><br><div><div>On Dec 23, 2010, at 11:27 PM, David Arkin, AIA wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Hi Dan, David E.:</div><div><br></div><div>Sierra Energy Professionals (SEP) say:</div><div><blockquote type="cite">When the house pressure was at a 50 Pa difference relative to the exterior, the flow of<br>air infiltrating from outside into the building envelope was measured to be 617 cubic<br>feet per minute (CFM).</blockquote><br></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Based on "9592 cf house", 617 CFM = 37,020 CF/hour, or 3.8 times the volume of the house:</span></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Flow @ 50 Pa<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Air changes per hour (ACH) @ 50 Pa</b></div><div>617 CFM<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>3.8</div><div><br></div><div><b>If the house were tighter:</b></div><div>160 CFM<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>1.0 (probably about what John's house is)</div><div>96 CFM <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>0.6 (Passive House (PH) certification threshold)</div><div><br></div><div>So house is 6.4x leakier than PH threshold. We've done a passive house project since this one, but none bale ... yet. </div><div><br></div><div>However, this is an off-grid home, with a combined passive and active hot water heating system, storing heat in an insulated sand bed, with electricity from a photovoltaic system. So we're wasting some of that free energy from the sun ... I think we can live with that!</div><div><br></div><div>John, it's our 'typical' system of 14" I-joists at 7' to 10' on center, with 3-string rice bales on edge, PISE finish. </div><div><br></div><div>More cheer to y'all,</div><div><br></div><div>David A.</div><div><br></div><div><div>On Dec 23, 2010, at 9:42 PM, Dan Smith wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; ">David and Anni, thanks for sharing this, it is a treat.<br><br>What's the air change per hour at 50 Pa?<br><br>Happy Holidays,<br>Dan<br>.......................................................<br>Dan Smith<br>Principal - DSA Architects<br>1107 Virginia St.<br>Berkeley, CA 94702<br>510.526.1935 x101<br>510.526.1961 fax<br><a href="mailto:dan@dsaarch.com">dan@dsaarch.com</a><br><a href="http://www.dsaarch.com/">www.dsaarch.com</a><br><br>On Dec 23, 2010, at 2:48 PM, David Arkin, AIA wrote:<br><br>Hello Fello Baleos Worldwide:<br><br>Since this list is particularly alive today, I'm taking the opportunity to share a Christmas treat.<br><br>I attach here (gosh, can I attach to this list?) a report on a Blower Door and Infrared Camera test done on a 900 sq. ft. (85 sq. meter) home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.<br><br>In particular, dig this quote from Michael Ukraine of Sierra Energy Professionals: "Any doubts that I had about straw bale or SIP construction are thouroughly gone after conducting these tests. This is definitely the tightest and best insulated house I have ever tested."<br><br>The photos are quite illustrative, but certainly say that the bale walls in no way constitute a weak link in a tight or thermally superior building. Don't ever let anyone try to tell you otherwise. We raise a glass to y'all, and wish you an excellent New Year!<br><br>David and Anni<br><br><br><Straw Bale House Photos 2010-10-18.pdf><br>* * * * *</span></blockquote></div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; 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; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; 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; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; 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; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-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; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-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; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-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; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-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; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">* * * * *</div><div>Arkin Tilt Architects</div><div>Ecological Planning & Design</div><div><br></div><div>David Arkin, AIA, Architect</div><div>LEED Accredited Professional</div><div>CA #C22459/NV #5030</div><div><br></div><div>1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA 94710</div><div>510/528-9830</div><div><a href="http://www.arkintilt.com">www.arkintilt.com</a></div><div><br></div><div>"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."</div><div>— A. J. Muste </div><div><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span></span></span></div></span></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div> <br></div>_______________________________________________<br>GSBN mailing list<br><a href="mailto:GSBN@greenbuilder.com">GSBN@greenbuilder.com</a><br>http://greenbuilder.com/mailman/listinfo/GSBN<br></div><br></div></body></html>