Comments on: Adobe/Thermal Mass Building – Eliminating The Need For Air Conditioning. http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/ Sustainability, Environment, Progressive Politics, Peak Oil, Going Green. Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:59:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Rene http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2714 Rene Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:10:53 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2714 Oh I really love all of the adobes in New Mexico. Adobe, earthship, straw bale. They're all supreme building methods, and we want to build our next home <a href="http://www.liveworkdream.com/2008/05/28/earthship-institute-tour-video/" rel="nofollow">using these models</a>. But, can you just see how uptight planning and zoning people in places like Colorado Springs or Palo Alto would react if people wanted to build like this? I really hope that the powers that be get on board, NOW, so that the masses can join in. Until that happens, it's just going to be a fringe element idea. Meanwhile we'll take our piece of land somewhere and just go for it.I love being part of the fringe! Oh I really love all of the adobes in New Mexico. Adobe, earthship, straw bale. They’re all supreme building methods, and we want to build our next home using these models.

But, can you just see how uptight planning and zoning people in places like Colorado Springs or Palo Alto would react if people wanted to build like this? I really hope that the powers that be get on board, NOW, so that the masses can join in. Until that happens, it’s just going to be a fringe element idea.

Meanwhile we’ll take our piece of land somewhere and just go for it.I love being part of the fringe!

]]> By: David http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2715 David Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:26:41 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2715 Rene - I can only imagine what most places would say if you showed up with a pile of old tires. I want to build one just so my family thinks I have lost even more of my mind! Rene – I can only imagine what most places would say if you showed up with a pile of old tires. I want to build one just so my family thinks I have lost even more of my mind!

]]> By: Audra http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2712 Audra Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:10:38 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2712 David, I've stayed in adobe houses before and they are great. But what I'm wondering is what is the difference in initial cost of resources to build an adobe house versus a conventional one? It seems that those lovely old solid wood floors and the beams for the ceiling would be pretty pricey materials. And how hard would it be to find a builder with any knowledge of the techniques used in this kind of building? Also, how suitable is this type of structure for other climates, such as the Coastal North West with all it's rain? David,

I’ve stayed in adobe houses before and they are great. But what I’m wondering is what is the difference in initial cost of resources to build an adobe house versus a conventional one? It seems that those lovely old solid wood floors and the beams for the ceiling would be pretty pricey materials. And how hard would it be to find a builder with any knowledge of the techniques used in this kind of building? Also, how suitable is this type of structure for other climates, such as the Coastal North West with all it’s rain?

]]> By: david http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2713 david Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:30:46 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2713 Audra - initial cost would be relative - can you make the adobe bricks or harvest wood from your own land? Most people cannot, and I would imagine that the price would be equivalent to stick-built housing...the savings would be in heating and cooling costs. As for the wood floors and beams, considering most houses are built entirely out of wood, the small amount going into the floors and ceiling joists don't bother me too much. Finding a builder is easy where I live, but I imagine in the coastal NW it would be more difficult - I wonder if you could contract out a crew from the SW to build a house like that? Of course, the mud bricks would probably have to be shipped up there, unless there is quality mud nearby. As for rain, it should be fine - it has rained here every day and we have big winter storms. The above all being said, you could always build an earthship - old tires, bottles, mud, some wood and some glass! Audra – initial cost would be relative – can you make the adobe bricks or harvest wood from your own land? Most people cannot, and I would imagine that the price would be equivalent to stick-built housing…the savings would be in heating and cooling costs. As for the wood floors and beams, considering most houses are built entirely out of wood, the small amount going into the floors and ceiling joists don’t bother me too much.

Finding a builder is easy where I live, but I imagine in the coastal NW it would be more difficult – I wonder if you could contract out a crew from the SW to build a house like that? Of course, the mud bricks would probably have to be shipped up there, unless there is quality mud nearby. As for rain, it should be fine – it has rained here every day and we have big winter storms.

The above all being said, you could always build an earthship – old tires, bottles, mud, some wood and some glass!

]]> By: david http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2711 david Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:36:15 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2711 Jody - you should email them! It's all about code issues, nothing more, really... Jody – you should email them! It’s all about code issues, nothing more, really…

]]> By: Jody http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2710 Jody Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:25:39 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2710 I just watched "Garbage Warrior", and I was soooo impressed! What do you think it would take to get Earthships built in Canada? I just watched “Garbage Warrior”, and I was soooo impressed!

What do you think it would take to get Earthships built in Canada?

]]> By: Leslie Atkins http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2709 Leslie Atkins Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:21:50 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2709 Let's hope! Let’s hope!

]]> By: david http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2708 david Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:43:05 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2708 I agree, it's not conventional. But with fuel prices heading ever higher, it might become conventional! I agree, it’s not conventional. But with fuel prices heading ever higher, it might become conventional!

]]> By: Patrick http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/07/16/adobethermal-mass-building-eliminating-the-need-for-air-conditioning/#comment-2707 Patrick Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:38:42 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/?p=1774#comment-2707 Very cool! (no pun intended, LOL). Our house stays cool in the summer because we have a lot of trees around it, but it's not quite as efficient in the winter. I wish more houses were built this way too, but it just isn't "conventional." Maybe that's the problem. Very cool! (no pun intended, LOL). Our house stays cool in the summer because we have a lot of trees around it, but it’s not quite as efficient in the winter. I wish more houses were built this way too, but it just isn’t “conventional.” Maybe that’s the problem.

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