Article: The $55K, 2,900-sq. ft, eco-friendly home & no electricity bill (Earthship) - Page 2

hamsterpower · 10-17-12, 12:09 PM

That's one of the nice things about masonry (and mud, dirt) walls that thick. When humidity is high they absorb moisture, when humidity is low they give off moisture. It can help regulate humidity.

SimpleManLance · 10-17-12, 02:57 PM

The thermal mass of the walls must really soak up some heat. It doesn't look like there is any insulation on some of the wood ceilings. Seems like there would be a lot of heat loss out the windows and ceiling.

EDIT: so further research shows that there is fair amount of insulation.
http://youtu.be/wTqSpx0Vgv4

Mikesolar · 10-17-12, 06:04 PM

In years past I helped build a couple of rammed earth houses and an adobe house here in Ontario. No insulation was necessary, the rammed earth walls were 2 ft thick and the source of heat was a masonry wood stove. It didn't need anything else, other than solar for power and for DHW.

S-F · 10-17-12, 06:42 PM

There is a great BSC paper on earth as insulation. I'll dig it up and post a link to it tomorrow when I have time.

EDIT:

http://www.buildingscience.com/docum...er-green-roofs

10-17-12, 02:57 PM	#12
SimpleManLance Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South-East MI Posts: 58 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	The thermal mass of the walls must really soak up some heat. It doesn't look like there is any insulation on some of the wood ceilings. Seems like there would be a lot of heat loss out the windows and ceiling. EDIT: so further research shows that there is fair amount of insulation. http://youtu.be/wTqSpx0Vgv4 __________________ Jack of all trades, master of none. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by SimpleManLance; 10-17-12 at 03:21 PM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-17-12, 12:09 PM	#11
hamsterpower Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 142 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	That's one of the nice things about masonry (and mud, dirt) walls that thick. When humidity is high they absorb moisture, when humidity is low they give off moisture. It can help regulate humidity.

10-17-12, 06:04 PM	#13
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	In years past I helped build a couple of rammed earth houses and an adobe house here in Ontario. No insulation was necessary, the rammed earth walls were 2 ft thick and the source of heat was a masonry wood stove. It didn't need anything else, other than solar for power and for DHW.