permaculture

["Frances and David" <fdnokes@hotmail.com>]

Also of interest is the local suitability of various materials.
We are selling our house now, and it has aluminum siding.
We learned from an electrician friend that stucco was vulnerable to mold 
while plastic siding (horrors) goes rigid...
Indeed, we had someone looking at our house yesterday that reported that the 
houses with aluminum siding appeared to be in good shape.
Our house has had zero issues with moisture.
Am looking at the idea of metal, not only for the roof but also for the 
cladding of a house.
Which brings to mind this neat little link of a tiny house.
Note the sliding shutter for the large window.  Shutters (Dave likes to 
envision a simple, older style home with wooden shutters) are another 
possibility for climate control.
Definitely worth a look, this 'tiny off grid self sustaining' home in Maine:
http://inhabitat.com/tiny-off-grid-cabin-in-maine-is-completely-self-sustaining/
Fran


-----Original Message----- 
From: venaurafarm
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 10:46 PM
To: permaculture
Subject: Re: [permaculture] soil science in 77 minutes

On 1/3/2013 8:25 PM, Frances and David wrote:
> I agree: make the investment up front.

If you don't you may get lower performance and shorter service life
meaning reinvestment. Build smaller, more compact, consolidate and
integrate resources (like a Japanese home) = far greater energy
efficiency, lower heating costs, passive cooling with shading and
ventilation.

> I guess what comes into the mix is just what is this material that we are
> using for insulation? Where does it come from? What is it true cost?

As long as it is non toxic afaiac it does not matter...build with logs,
16"-24" thick walls....install double windows if low-e glass thermopane
is not available. Always use metal roofing, prepainted galvanized
corrugated steel. Forget shingles of any kind. As I said, build smaller
but better; less environmental/carbon footprint. If you can build
underground, basement, house partially or completely underground, all
the better but waterproofing and moisture problems/mold are significant
issues.

> I also agree that creating a building that requires much less fuel is a
> worthwhile accomplishment; however, what exactly are we using when we use
> standard insulation materials?

Doesn't matter as long as they are not toxic. Ethically superior if you
build for 200 years durability, smaller, better design, non toxic.

The concrete industry is there to serve you and they are your friends.

> and why isn't hemp available?

Not legal.

> and what, if anything, can we do to change that?

Ask Norml.

> Thanks for the link to archival fodder, L!

Any time.

LL
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