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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