[Cob] R value of cob vs strawbale

[Henry Raduazo]

Debora: 
	Why not try both. You can build a hybrid structure that uses straw bale on the outside and load bearing cob as the interior wall thus giving yourself both insulation where it is needed and biomass for storing solar energy and providing a strong load bearing wall that will not compress over time and crack your walls as some load bearing straw bale walls are known to do.. 

	For pictures of hybrid construction send a request to me personally because pictures are not allowed on the coblist list.

Ed
On Feb 9, 2015, at 2:34 PM, Deborah Denmark wrote:

> I have a question concerning the best way to build a north face wall in
> northern hemisphere. The south face will be built to take advantage of
> passive solar principles.
> 
> I am wondering if it would give higher R value to go with a straw bale wall
> on the north side of the house or a cob wall that is 3 feet thick at the
> base reducing to 2 feet thick at the top of the wall (1 story high).
> 
> The winter nighttime low temps in my area average in the 20s to 30s in the
> winter with occasional dips into the teens and less frequent dips to single
> digits and far less frequently we get the occasional below 0 degrees F.
> 
> The winter daytime highs average in the 40s with the occasional dips of
> course similar to the nighttime dips.
> 
> The climate is also at high humidity levels most of the time as I am in a
> temperate rain forest climate in the southern Appalachian mountains.
> 
> Deborah Denmark
> Cullowhee, NC
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