Cob Re: cordwood homes

[Paul Valerio]

MJ Epko wrote:

>         The R-value of plain old *uncompacted* earth is said to be about 1 per
> inch (per the University of Minnesota Underground Space Center). Depending
> primarily on the quantity of straw in the cob, I'd think it could possibly
> approach 1/" as well despite what was requoted above. In which case cob and
> end-grain wood are roughly equal in this regard.
>
For those of us not up on all this scientific stuff, does this mean that
a cob wall two feet thick would have an R value of 24? If so, does
everyone who knows what your talking about (scientifically) agree with
this?

I was looking at a website for earth-sheltered (underground) homes and I
think it was there that I saw a statement that said one foot of earth on
your roof would reduce your internal temperature swing to only 40
degrees or so, when the outside temp swing was much higher (80 or
100-can't remember).  Meaning that if it went from 0 to 100 degrees
outside, the fluctuation in your house would only be 40 degrees (or so).

pv

" Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his
lips, he is considered perceptive." Pr.17:28