[GSBN] Straw bale building in tropical areas

[Bob Theis]

While working in Haiti I desperately wanted to test ways to create local roof insulation,  to  alleviate the infra red oven created by  a tin roof.  My principal concern wasn’t rot, but critters nesting in it. My first notion was to mix the local fibers with quicklime, but I didn't have a chance to field test it. 

But we DO have a 2010 field test of straw bale construction there:  Martin Hammer, what do you hear from the little cottage?

Bob
> On Jul 11, 2017, at 11:49 AM, Derek Stearns Roff <derek at unm.edu <mailto:derek at unm.edu>> wrote:
> 
> I don’t have the experience in a very humid, continuously warm tropical environment, to propose a natural building solution.  Looking at the current local solutions is always a good place to start.  There is also the question of what materials are available.  But starting from a place of ignorance about the place, if I wanted to include lots of insulation where mold and moisture are a big concern, then I would consider blown-in fiberglass (NOT fiberglass batts), which has several moisture/mold advantages.  
> 
> Best wishes,
> Derek
> 
> Derek Roff
> derek at unm.edu <mailto:derek at unm.edu>
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Jul 11, 2017, at 2:25 PM, Noé Solsona <noe at anarchitecture.org <mailto:noe at anarchitecture.org>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello ballers,
>> 
>> Am still looking for advices on that topic because I have more request for building with bale in hot and humid climate like Guadeloupe, Benin, Sénégal.
>> 
>> Many thanks in advance.
>> Noé…
>> 
>> 
>>> Le 29 juin 2017 à 08:17, Noé Solsona <noe at anarchitecture.org <mailto:noe at anarchitecture.org>> a écrit :
>>> 
>>> Hello Derek and Bill,
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your returns, and advice regarding analyzing the moisture effect.
>>> I definitely agree with you Bill, that’s why I wrote to the GSBN to ask how to do and if it’s possible or suitable to build with straw in tropical climate ? Because I don’t want to be dependent and risk the failure of the air conditioning.
>>> 
>>> So am very wondering if it’s possible to build with straw ??
>>> Would it be better with light straw ?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your advices.
>>> Noé...
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Le 28 juin 2017 à 19:47, Bill Christensen <lists at sustainablesources.com <mailto:lists at sustainablesources.com>> a écrit :
>>>> 
>>>> Hi Noé, et al,
>>>> 
>>>> Over the years I've become a fan of the concept of passive sustainability:  specifically, what happens to the building when power and mechanical systems such as air conditioning fail?
>>>> 
>>>> In the wall described below, you're creating a dependence on the air conditioning system, and therefore setting yourself up for potential wall failure if the A/C goes down for an extended period, whether due to something as simple as financial constraints or as extensive as global apocalypse.
>>>> 
>>>> Better to build without such dependencies whenever possible.
>>>> 
>>>> On 6/26/17 4:26 PM, Noé Solsona wrote:
>>>>> But I also hear that it could be possible if we have a vapor block membrane in the outside, and clay plastering in the inside with a good and strong air conditioning system.
>>>>> What do you think ?
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -- 
>>>> Bill Christensen
>>>> http://SustainableSources.com <http://sustainablesources.com/>
>>>> http://LinkedIn.com/in/billc108 <http://linkedin.com/in/billc108>
>>>> 
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