[Cob] styrofoam dust

[howard at earthandstraw.com]

I do think burying the stuff, Styrofoam, that has been made under an earthen floor, or cob, the earth or in cement is a very good idea. I believe reuse is what Charmaine is all about in that regard. (pardon me C if I'm wrong.)  But since Helen Caldecott says it is made with vinyl and benzene, two powerful carcinogens, I would not like to see its continued manufacture encouraged so ICF/SIPS I avoid amap.  There may be other more benign foams but I don't trust the corporate literature, I want to see third party reviews.


Howard Switzer, Architect
668 Hurricane Creek Road
Linden, TN 37096
931-589-6513
www.earthandstraw.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Quinn 
  To: coblist at deatech.com 
  Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 9:49 PM
  Subject: [Cob] styrofoam dust


  Charmaine,

  I am sorry if you were having a bad day.  I think your response is a  
  vast over-reaction to my post about styrofoam in cob.  I was merely  
  asking if this stuff was as safe as it was purported to be and  
  suggesting various possibilities which occurred to me.  I did not  
  remember hearing in your original post that the material was entirely  
  plastered over with cement.  That would make a difference, though you  
  still say "may" never burn.

  My experience with this list is that there are ideas put out there  
  and then others who question the viability of those ideas, offer  
  their own suggestions, and on and on-- that "what about this?" and  
  "Don't you think that..." were not out of place here.  I hope that  
  remains the case.

  I still consider myself a purist when it comes to environmentally  
  friendly materials, and will stand with that, name-calling  
  notwithstanding.

  Quinn

  “How can a nation be great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?”
    ~Julia Child



  On Feb 21, 2009, at 2:00 PM,  Taylor wrote:

  > I often regret taking the time to provide answers to questions on  
  > this list.... holier than thou responses...

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