Hello Steve,
   
  Thanks for the post. Wool insulation is both 
  widely used and available here in South Eastern Australia, with at least 4 
  companies marketing it as a product in my town alone (of 80000 people). 
  Australia being the world's biggest sheep/wool growing nation may have 
  something to do with it!! Similar to the US wool prices have been low for 
  years with global prices largely linked to the enormous stock pile of bale 
  stored in Sydney. (they were threatening to burn it at one stage - now it 
  looks like the Chinese have bought the lot much to the joy of the Aussie wool 
  grower. Funny sheep prices are fantastic at the moment...)
   
  The insulation in my ceiling is just loose fill 
  100% scoured wool - and applied with a blower-type device. It cost 
  AUD$730 for 14 squares, which is as cheap as you'll get...The R rating is 
  between R2.2-R3.5. It is treated with a borax-based compound (Sodium 
  Octoborate Tetrahydrate) to negate the impact of wool moth. Our roof is tiled 
  and well ventilated, although high humidity levels only 
  occasionally arise in summer when rain is about - usually the extremely 
  low summer humidity and 40-45+ degrees centigrade temperatures are the order 
  of the day - something the wool will help to reduce the desiccating effects of 
  - we hope!! Nonetheless the occasional humidity is nothing like what you would 
  have to put up with. Another product that we are getting is a composite 
  wool/poly batt - it is 60:40 Wool:Poly. This will be used in the stud walls 
  and ceiling of the sunrooms we are building. The batts are R3.5. 
  Flammability of all wool products is very low too.
   
  We also have pure woollen pillows, underblankets 
  and doonas which you have to experience to believe. These too were pretty cost 
  effective and after one night you'll never go back. 
   
  I figure for all the damage sheep have done to 
  our landscape we should be utilising their products in as sensible a way as 
  possible - not bad eating either. 
   
  Go for it.
   
  Cheers,
   
  Yours and Growing,
   
  Darren Doherty
   
  
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    
    
    Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 12:55 
    PM
    Subject: Re: Australia Felix 
    Permaculture Update
    
    Darren,
        Your recent accomplishments 
    are amazing. My congratulations.
        I am keenly interested in 
    wool for house insulation. Did you encapsulate the wool? Here in the 
    temperate Midwest of the U.S.,  the issues about wool would be insect 
    infestation and damage, degradation of the wool over time in a humid 
    climate, and flammability. 
        I am developing an eco-farm 
    and want to demonstrate building with materials that are natural, low-tech, 
    and local resources. Insulation is a critical factor in this context. 
    Although the popularity of wool for clothing and bedding is increasing in 
    the US , prices for wool have been in the toilet for several years. A demand 
    for wool insulation could stimulate a network of regional businesses 
    connected to family farms. This could provide needed economic sustainability 
    in the family farm sector. 
        Of related interest 
    (insulation, that is), someone on the ferrocement list recommends clay 
    coated straw as insulation with good R values.  However, he is in 
    Austin, Texas, which is much drier than Indiana. and the same issues exist 
    here.
    Best,
    Steve
     
    Steve Bonney
Sustainable Earth, a 
    not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the development of 
    sustainable food and farming systems
100 Georgton Ct.
W. Lafayette, IN 
    47906
(765) 463-9366
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