[GSBN] Emerald update (GSBN Digest, Vol 33, Issue 17)

[John Swearingen]

I've always been curious about whether there was a thermal break at the base
of bales that sit on gravel, and so when we got our hands on an IR scope, I
trained it on the base to see if I could find anything.  Nada.  Admittedly,
it's a mild environment (Napa Valley in winter is not severe), but we
couldn't detect anything. Seven inches of wood apparently does a lot.

I've been concerned about some of the volcanic rocks in regard to getting
soggy and then losing all their insulation value.  They will certainly help
when dry, but they might hold moisture at the bottom of bale.  Then again,
it shouldn't be wet there.

John "Cinder-Cone Head" Swearingen

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 3:56 AM, Kelly Lerner
<klerner at one-world-design.com>wrote:

> My (late) two cent's worth to add to RT's thoughts on EPS under bales.
>
> I agree that EPS is overkill in terms of insulation and has the added
> problems of possibly creating moisture issues and is loaded with fire
> retardant (in addition to the issues of global warming potential,
> susceptibility to insect attack, high embodied energy, etc).
>
> I'm moving towards using compacted perlite as under-slab insulation in
> Spokane, WA. I wonder if you have any natural, mineral based material like
> perlite or pumice locally available? If so, you might want to check it out.
> Just a thought. We used a cavity brick wall filled with pumice-like coal
> slag as an insulated wall at the base of strawbale walls in northern China.
> Not perfect, but locally available and a good moisture resistant wall base
> under strawbale walls.
>
> Thanks for sharing so much of your process. Huge gift to the SB community!
>
> On Jan 27, 2011, at 11:22 PM, RT wrote:
>
> On Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:03 -0500, <gsbn-request at greenbuilder.com>
> wrote:>
>
> Message: 1
>
> on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:21:17 +1000
>
> "Chris Newton" wrote:
>
> Re: Fw: Emerald update
>
>
> Currently we plan to replace [all of the flood-damaged bales] with
> engineered high density expanded polystyrene foam blocks.
>
>
> Of course we are really interested in any other greener product out there
> that will meet the needs, we have a few months up our sleeve to explore and
> experiment.
>
>
> I guess we are now looking at replacing 2 layers of bales around the whole
> building. I hear conversations between Lance and Col about supporting the
> upper bales in various ways while the damaged bales are removed, and having
> to put a new capillary layer on top of the expanding foam.
>
> [snip]
>
> (for full text of message/thread, see
>      http://greenbuilder.com/pipermail/gsbn/2011q1/001252.html )
>
>
>  Kelly Lerner, Architect
> One World Design Architecture
> 509-838-8812
> www.one-world-design.com
>
> Have you read Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House? Available in
> Bookstores across the Universe.
> www.naturalremodeling.com
>
>
>
>
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-- 
John Swearingen
Skillful Means Design & Construction
2550 9th Street   Suite 209A
Berkeley, CA   94710
510.849.1800 phone
510.849.1900 fax

Web Site:  http://www.skillful-means.com
Blog:         https://skillfulmeansdesign.wordpress.com
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