While not directly related to the thrust of these forums (fuels & power), I have a suspiction that lots of folks on here are also into alternative construction like straw bale, earthship, cob, cordwood, etc. For the most part, these techniques are not only low-energy to build but also low-energy to maintain (heat/cool, light, etc.). At least this is the case when they are well designed.

I've long felt that any true revolution in how we as a society treat the environment must involve changes in our housing paradigms. We have the resources to build every home in America (well, maybe not multi-levels) using natural materials, and in ways that would suck a lot less energy from the grid.

I'm still in a regular stick-built home, and sometimes it frustrates me. It doesn't frustrate me so much that I'm in a stick-built, because we have to live somewhere, but that I have not kicked myself into gear to build a more sustainable and healthy home for my family.

My goal is to build a straw bale home that maximizes passive solar exposure for cooling and heating. I actually envision this home using many "alternative" techniques to achieve a well-balanced and comfortable atmosphere. Adobe floors, cob interior walls, and maybe even a south wall that is rammed earth rather than bales and fronted with an earth ship style glazing.

Following the "Rule of Threes" I would use wood heat, radiant floor heating, and a backup heater (with extra quilts and sweaters) for the days when the sun just isn't enough. I'd also go for minimal appliances to reduce the electric load. This would include using a clothes line and an outdoor solar shower during the summer, and probably doing more things by hand instead of relying on a machine.

Electric would be sourced from a combo of solar (a.k.a. photovoltaic) power, wind and/or hydro, and a backup emergency generator (again following the Rule of Threes). Thermal energy for the radiant floor system and the water heater would come from geothermal and solar heat collectors.

Oh yeah, I'm also wanting to make a solar heat collector to heat my WVO for settling and filtering, so that would fit right in with the rest of my dream. Imagine my veggie car parked in front of my straw bale home, getting filled up with WVO that I saved from a dumpster.

Ah, such a dream! Will it ever come true?

Dan

Thanks for the info! Now I have more stuff to search the Internet for... I love the fact that there are many intelligent solutions - most of which can be used in conjunction with each other.

Dan

I started building my strawbale house in Sept 2005, and moved in Dec 2007. I'm also offgrid with 1920 watts of PV and an Outback system.

The first thing I tell people is, if you just want to be eco and have great insulation, there are probably easier ways than straw. Strawbale houses are best for people who really like....well, strawbale houses

I love the deep window ledges, the plaster walls, the exposed post and beam (that's optional, of course), the absence of straight lines, etc. The high R-value is also really nice, after 50 years of living in stickframe tract houses.

Plastering the entire house, inside and out, is a LOT of work. If you have to use stucco wire to keep your building dept. happy, it's even MORE work.

Oregon building depts. might be better than Calif., but I had a lot of hoops to jump thru even being the (approx.) fifteenth strawbale house in my county. Be sure to talk to them ahead of time as to what their concerns will be.

Good luck!

quote:

I love the deep window ledges, the plaster walls, the exposed post and beam (that's optional, of course), the absence of straight lines, etc. The high R-value is also really nice, after 50 years of living in stickframe tract houses.

And I agree,having built a 16" thick cordwood walled home. I found the experience both money saveing as well and far more rewarding as a life project to dwell inside something you have created than a prebuilt home.

Coyo

I like the way you think. If this is your dream house then go for it. Being sustainable is a rewarding goal to attain and your attitude towards giving up some of those things we take for granted shows you willingness to accomplish just that. your ideas are sound and very doable for someone willing to make the investment

If your serious about investing the work and reaping the many other rewards then don't let any one talk you out of it. You'll just end up regretting it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 12voltdan,

Thanks for all the info and encouragement. I have toured quite a few straw bale homes here in my area and really liked them. I found them warm and inviting architecturally, and the air felt more fresh than in a stick-built. I'm open to learning whatever techniques I can, though, because more options means more freedom.

The one thing I'm not too excited about, however, is using styrofoam to superinsulate the walls. No matter what kind of barrier you put on your walls, I still can't help but think that some of the off-gassing has to get into the inside spaces when the sun is beating down.

Other than that, I'd like to use as many natural and sustainable materials as possible, but I'm not exactly a purist.

Dan

Hey, I'm not closed to what you have to say. Didn't you read my last post? I'm open to options, because options give freedom. Yeah, my mind is *fairly* made up, but I'm still open to learn and to change my mind. I'm not sure why you responded in such a hostile way???

Now, as far as science, I have been in straw houses that have been around for a while, and they were not experiencing the rot you speak of, so I'm not confident in accepting your statements as building science "facts". One easy-to-access example is the Wilderness Charter School in Ashland - part of the Ashland Public Schools. It was built in 1997 and still shows no sign of decay. I have also been in private homes made of straw bales - homes that were built some time ago (don't know the exact age, but at least ten years), and they were still performing very well.

I also believe that for every problem there is a solution. Case in point, isn't this our philosophy with WVO? If we believe in innovation and solution seeking with our vehicles, then why not with our homes? Should we not build with straw because some have had problems, or do we find solutions so that we build with success? I opt for the latter.

As far as fresh air, it's too simplistic to assume leaky construction. One home I have been in only builds a small fire in the wood stove at the beginning of the day. It heats the house adequately without any extra heat source unless the doors get opened a lot during the day. This tells me that the home is not leaky.

The fresh quality of the air comes from not having plastic carpet or plastic walls, and from using natural earth pigments in the plaster instead of applying coats of paint. Maybe some folks don't notice the difference, but I sure do. Every straw bale building I've been in seemed easier to breathe in. I should also note that my wife is HIGHLY allergic to mold. If the walls were rotting she would have had to leave the premises. She has never had a reaction while in a straw bale building, of which we have been in quite a few.

Again, I'm open to learn, but please don't assume that I'm ignorant of the facts, and please don't look for an argument with me. I'd rather learn from you than argue with you. If we argue we both lose. If we learn from each other we both win.

Dan

You're right, I shouldn't discuss building techniques I don't condone. Comments deleted.
Peace out...

quote:

Originally posted by Coyo~:
The one thing I'm not too excited about, however, is using styrofoam to superinsulate the walls. No matter what kind of barrier you put on your walls, I still can't help but think that some of the off-gassing has to get into the inside spaces when the sun is beating down.
Dan

CFC's are not used as the blowing agent in styrofoam manufacture any more. Steam is most commonly used. Check out ICF construction. Clean, quiet, strong, Extremely energy efficient construction. You will need an air exchanger in this type of home, however, because it is so air tight. HTH

Very good to know - thanks! Do you know if the actual foam itself off-gasses? I have assumed so, but we all know what assumptions do...

There are some construction systems that I've looked at in the vendor booths at SolWest. They look like they would to a great job for insulating the home and reducing energy consumption, and they are all based on styrofoam.

Dan

Paul Punshon,building 1st earthship in Muskoka,incorporating cans,bottles,sea containers,and anything else that is used.Bought a junkyard,got the land and all the building material in 1 shot.the township was happy because it was getting cleaned up(no more complaints)neighbourhood happy because land values went back to normal,win-win-win situation.offering courses this summer,come camp out,all ages and friendly pets welcome,stay for the day or the whole summer.newspapers,magazines,freelancers,photograghers
have already started coming and showing more
interest.learn how to deal with the banks and building departments.Paul is also connected with architechs & engineers,Also can supply all building materials,build homes or educate,train and support your own project.eventually going global,3rd world countries.Working together for our earth.suggestions and questions welcome

to contact earthship Muskoka
Paul Punshon-splashpunch@gmail.com
home 705-687-4702
cell 705-645-0789
anytime,all the time

Say your close to home and I think I know the property your on. I tried a similar project with seminars on alternative energy on a shoe string budget but didn't get much of a response. People didn't seem to be interested in learning that kind of stuff/

That could change now.

Any buiding codes for new typs of dwellings will need an engineers report,your contacts could come in handy

I like earth houses.

I think they're great no matter the climate. Warm in winter, cool in summer.

Solar pannels could charge batteries to provide light at night while skylights (windows in the ceiling) would provide light during the day.

quote:

Originally posted by 12voltdan:
Say your close to home and I think I know the property your on. I tried a similar project with seminars on alternative energy on a shoe string budget but didn't get much of a response. People didn't seem to be interested in learning that kind of stuff/

That could change now.

Any buiding codes for new typs of dwellings will need an engineers report,your contacts could come in handy

12 years off grid,thats admirable.Most of the people that respond to me are from the city or elseware than muskoka.

still cleaning and organizing,was going to start build this month,but have decided to hold off till next spring, rain or shine,hopefully shine~!
ttyl

quote:

Originally posted by Coyo~:
Hey, I'm not closed to what you have to say. Didn't you read my last post? I'm open to options, because options give freedom. Yeah, my mind is *fairly* made up, but I'm still open to learn and to change my mind. I'm not sure why you responded in such a hostile way???

Now, as far as science, I have been in straw houses that have been around for a while, and they were not experiencing the rot you speak of, so I'm not confident in accepting your statements as building science "facts". One easy-to-access example is the Wilderness Charter School in Ashland - part of the Ashland Public Schools. It was built in 1997 and still shows no sign of decay. I have also been in private homes made of straw bales - homes that were built some time ago (don't know the exact age, but at least ten years), and they were still performing very well.

I also believe that for every problem there is a solution. Case in point, isn't this our philosophy with WVO? If we believe in innovation and solution seeking with our vehicles, then why not with our homes? Should we not build with straw because some have had problems, or do we find solutions so that we build with success? I opt for the latter.

As far as fresh air, it's too simplistic to assume leaky construction. One home I have been in only builds a small fire in the wood stove at the beginning of the day. It heats the house adequately without any extra heat source unless the doors get opened a lot during the day. This tells me that the home is not leaky.

The fresh quality of the air comes from not having plastic carpet or plastic walls, and from using natural earth pigments in the plaster instead of applying coats of paint. Maybe some folks don't notice the difference, but I sure do. Every straw bale building I've been in seemed easier to breathe in. I should also note that my wife is HIGHLY allergic to mold. If the walls were rotting she would have had to leave the premises. She has never had a reaction while in a straw bale building, of which we have been in quite a few.

Again, I'm open to learn, but please don't assume that I'm ignorant of the facts, and please don't look for an argument with me. I'd rather learn from you than argue with you. If we argue we both lose. If we learn from each other we both win.

Dan

I apologize if i may have sounded offensive,i welcome and appreciate outside opinions and always look forward to learning from others