Dave Presley

So as a byproduct of our business we have TONS of hdpe plastic shavings.  They’re light and fluffy.
Could they be used as the insulation instead of sawdust/lime?

Heya folks!  

After years of agonizing over what type of place to build, it seems that cordwood building suits the location, the yearly temp changes and available materials better than anything else.  We've got 50 acres in Southern Illinois and have started the process!

It's going to be a long haul, but we're getting as much of the family involved as possible to get us all a sense of accomplishment and togetherness. Here are some photos of us starting with the first few trees...

Ill be posting plans other info as we get it together.   Please feel free to ask questions or give us some advice. We're new to home building but are very adept at picking this type of stuff up.

The area will have south facing roof with a cliff line to the north and east.   It's an amazing piece of property that I feel grateful to have gotten.

Heya folks!   This is my first post so bear with me.

I've been scouring and studying books, videos, forums for a decent inexpensive way to insulate earth bag homes that doesn't use scoria (expensive) or rice hulls (unattainable in quantity).  I've read so much and nothing is standing out.   We're in the middle of purchasing a 48 acre parcel in Southern Illinois and can't wait to get outta dodge so to speak. We're wanting to get our ducks in a row with the home plans to ensure that all the materials are lined up and we know what we're getting ourselves into.  Insulation is truly the last thing we need to buckle down before we start digging.

i've read from people living in Canada and places where it regularly gets sub-zero that they've not done any insulating other than the earth bags themselves and are easily able to stay nice and cozy.  Ive also read that the thermal mass without insulation will make it hard to heat and/or cool the structure.

So whats the deal? 1. Do I need insulation or will the earth bags be themselves be enough? 2. What are some alternative options?

I did read somewhere that someone had used spray foam insulation on the outside of the bag structure and them lime-plastered over the foam. Seems like a good idea.   Does anyone have any experience with that?


Thank you in advance!
Dave Presley