Sean & Permies Cloud : Get the hard bits out of the way first, goto>
cchrc.org this is Cold Climate Housing Research Center. a branch of University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
You and I know Cold, they know COLD ! they build houses on 'rafts' of insulation to keep the permafrost from melting and the house sinking into instant swamp!
Regular Portland cement + or concrete is wicking, there for you have to treat it or isolate it from the
cob ! See their articles on geopolymer cements !
Passive houses speak of ~2-ish~ Air exchanges per hour, except when we are using our travel Yurt we get by on 0.6-ish A.C.R.s Usually air exchanges are handled buy fans that
move air over a common walled heat exchanger, many with built in heat pump units, again a little research will find you videos to watch about safety guidelines for operation !
C.C.H.R.C.is trying to reduce the number of homes ruined by trapped moisture, and mold mildew and rotting
wood, many places in alaska saw their price per gallon of #2 fuel oil
cost $10.00 U.S., cchrc homes operate on winter fuel needs in the 125 -175 gal of home heating fuels ! Again, you can
profit from lots of time spent here !
Cob vs concrete, Cob wins every time because of the sweat equity you put in ! Remember #1) insects won't eat it, #2) It will not burn and #3) it is as cheap as dirt !
properly built and sealed off from moisture concrete can also last with less maintenance than Cob which needs skillful construction and a 5 yr maintenance program !
Consider getting a used copy of
' The Hand-Sculpted House 'from Amazon or my favorite Alibris hope this helps, for the good of the Craft !
Think like fire, flow like a gas, Don't be the marshmallow ! As Always, your comments and questions are solicited and Welcome ! PYRO - Logically Big AL !
