Rethink Your Life!
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The Work of Art and The Art of Work
Kiko Denzer on Art



[Cob] Re: solar radiant sand bed under cob cottage & SB building

Barbara Roemer roemiller at infostations.net
Sun Jan 23 17:31:24 CST 2005


Regarding insulating the patch of earth beneath your abode to retain heat
long term so it is released during the cold months, Don Stephens' plan just
got simpler.  The latest issue of The Last Straw, the international bale
straw building journal, has an article by Stephens about his latest
refinements to the AGS (Annualized Geo-Solar heating plan).  It looks doable
at a very reasonable payback period.  Order the January edition of TLS at:

www.strawhomes.com   If you can wait a few more weeks, a CD of many back
issues will be avail. for $40.  Currently, back issues are available for $9,
and articles for $5.  Archives are available on the web site, but not all
articles have been archived.

Also, for those of you interested in SB building or other techniques
appropriate to all natural building, the Yahoo SB-R-US site is loaded with
info.  Peruse the files.


Amanda wrote:
To some extent the more of that sub-surface area you can heat the better.
Particularly if you have insulated heavily.  Not just the foundation, but
maybe even out from there.  Even in a small well-insulated shed, Don
Stephens was able to stabilize temperatures after a couple of YEARS of
leaving it alone.  Unfortunately the AGS link here isn't right, the one
comparing it to PAHS is, though.  PAHS is fascinating, the book is still
available.


Barbara