Cob: strawbale/cob on the inside

[Darel Henman]

One could leave the solar south facing wall un-insulated.  If the
government goes for an overall U-value for the structure as California
code does.  Most heat lost (63% I've seen) is through the roof.

If you do have to insulate the solar side wall.  Then the way to get the
solar energy inside would be to place solar air heaters with vents at
top and bottom of the wall area and ciruclate the heated air.  close the
vents at night.  Solar water could also be used,  I'd have the solar
heated water pipes run through the cob interior wall and possible floor
area to.  The wall version could use thermoshysoning and not need pumps
or electricity.

Darel

"Matthew HALL(SED)" wrote:
> 
> ric at mx5.net writes:
> >But if the thermal mass is insulated from the outside sun, how does it pick
> >up the energy to re-radiate......
> >
> Correct observation - whenever you use thermal insulation with thermal mass there is a conflict. If
> you insulate the inside of the house, the mass wall heats and cools very nicely but this effect is
> largely separated from the house interior by the insulation layer which seeks to nullify and heat
> transfer processes. If you insulate the outside then any heat which is stored by the walls is kept
> within the confines of the house. The only drawback is that the walls cannot be heated as
> effectively by solar radiation.
> 
> Just to clarify, the rather short sighted view taken by most building authorities is one that
> suggests a building is only up to scratch thermally if it has high levels of insulation (low U
> value [UK]), thermal mass concept is ignored. It makes no difference to them whether or not you
> have a thermal mass wall as long as you satisfy their arbitrary U-value requirements to make the
> grade. Earth walling has a relatively low level of insulation, and so to reach the required
> insulation value one would have to build an earth wall of immense thickness. This is fine if you
> have plenty of soil, labour and time etc. Perhaps another way to acheive the same insulation value
> would be to use an external outer insulation layer that allowed solar radiation to pass thorugh but
> prevented the leakage of infra red radiation. One example of this would be triple glazing low 'e'
> argon filled units, very expensive. Any other ideas?
> Matthew
> 
> >>____________________________________________________________________
> >>Matthew Hall - PhD Research Student
> >>Centre for the Built Environment
> >>Unit 9 Science Park
> >>Sheffield Hallam University
> >>Pond Street
> >>Sheffield S1 1WB
> >>England
> >>
> >>Tel: +44 (0) 114 225 3200
> >>Fax: +44 (0) 114 225 3206
> >>E-mail: M.Hall at shu.ac.uk
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> 
> ____________________________________________________________________
> Matthew Hall - PhD Research Student
> Centre for the Built Environment
> Unit 9 Science Park
> Sheffield Hallam University
> Pond Street
> Sheffield S1 1WB
> England
> 
> Tel: +44 (0) 114 225 3200
> Fax: +44 (0) 114 225 3206
> E-mail: M.Hall at shu.ac.uk