permaculture

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

interesting points all...
just wanted to add that the notion of a central woodstove, as well as a 
greenhouse that takes advantage of the warmth from the home are all on our 
'list'.
not sure of the best  position for an attached greenhouse...
What Dave liked about traditional wooden shutters was that you could reach 
outside and pull them closed at night. I do agree, though, that these seem 
to go a step further as well as making an allowance for the type of windows 
we love living with. Imagine being able to have your large windowed house 
and energy efficient, too. Could use passive solar (if the sign was shining, 
though even a cloudy day carries warmth in the light) and still close off to 
the elements at night.  The sliding bit is neat (but needs a lot of care) 
and I am working on visualizing the exact way the edges would 'seal'.
I do have my organic fabrics, my sewing machines and yarns that come as 
baggage and space takers. Question might become whether to keep them in a 
separate building (and whether that would allow for any greater efficiency 
re: heating... Speaking of which, I wonder about our moist moderate climate 
here, how safe it is to leave things in an unheated building longterm. I've 
heard it said that there is no risk of mold so long as they are in a 
building that has proper moisture barrier.  And then, if we were away, there 
is the risk of close to a week long frost.
Thanks for the opportunity to 'think out loud' and, although I certainly 
don't expect it for every point I make or question I ask, it certainly has 
been wonderful to have feedback.
Thanks for the conversation,
Frances

-----Original Message----- 
From: venaurafarm
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 1:52 PM
To: permaculture
Subject: Re: [permaculture] soil science in 77 minutes

On 1/4/2013 2:02 PM, Frances and David wrote:
> 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.

Good idea; it is cheaper than cedar siding or other wood + mantanance.
T-111 is excellent plywood intended for use as siding. Imitation B&B, it
installs quickly and lasts a long time; not cheap but good exterior
panelling.

> 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.

Anything to achieve maximum energy efficiency.

> 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/

That's the one. Build it! Really find small house.

This has features I see as critical: no maintenance siding, i.e.
vertical coated metal sheeting and it looks good too; alternative: rot
resistant wood (cedar, red cedar) board and batten; large, whole-window
sliding "shutters" for extra insulation at night, i.e. sliding exterior
wall sections. Plenty of window area for natural lighting; high
south-facing clerstory windows for summer ventilation and air
circulation. [Wikipedia: In architecture, clerestory are any high
windows above eye level. The purpose is to bring outside light, fresh
air, or both into the inner space.]; attached sunspace-greenhouse;
attached deck; entire house built on piers.

I would include an attached room that was built of stone, with stone or
concrete floor, South facing; redesign the sunspace-greenhouse to have
stone walls for thermal mass. Thermal mass anywhere in the house will be
important. The center of the house could have an atrum with floor at
ground level, made of concrete or stone with stone walls, knee walls and
steps; put the main wood stove in this room; benefit from solar gain,
light and ventilation in summer.

Insulate this house with rigid foamboard panels and spray on hard
setting foam insulation. Forget fiberglass bats or cellulose.

LL

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