Cob: Lake Erie research housing

[Lydia R. Bailey]

Hello Everyone,

I read many of your comments, but this is my first post/request for
advice.

I am attempting to encourage the director of The Ohio State University's
F.T. Stone Laboratory to consider alternative building materials for
additional researcher housing.  the Stone Lab is on Gibraltar Island in
Lake Erie.  Here is the link for the Stone Lab, just in case you are
interested:   <http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/slab/o-slab.html>
http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/slab/o-slab.html

I am trying to convince him that this can be more than just housing; it
can be a research project all by itself.  This can be a nice
joint-venture with the schools of architecture and/or physics and/or
electrical engineering for environmentally friendly, green architecture
with renewable energy devices to provide most (dare I imagine all?) of
needed power.  We need four modest two-bedroom, two-bath units.  Dr.
Reutter doesn't care if it is four separate houses, two duplexes or a
quad.

I've spoken with someone from OSU's architecture school and a friend who
graduated with honors in Physics.  They both seem interested in pursuing
this, but I need to put together a convincing proposal that will satisfy
fiscal managers.

1.) any ideas about grants/federal funding to help this educational
outreach/research field station?
2.) any suggestions re: issues with Lake Erie's climate?
3.) any contacts in Ohio that may want to get involved?
4.) I have many books on cob/straw/cord, and my initial thought is cob
is the way to go.  I would like opinions with this, too?

I have MUCH more passion for this project than I have knowledge (+
absolutely NO experience.)  I am anxious to read as much as you'd like
to offer.

Thanks,
Lydia



"If better is possible, good is not enough."--Anon




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