[Cob] R value of cob vs strawbale

[Deborah Denmark]

I have a question concerning the best way to build a north face wall in
northern hemisphere. The south face will be built to take advantage of
passive solar principles.

I am wondering if it would give higher R value to go with a straw bale wall
on the north side of the house or a cob wall that is 3 feet thick at the
base reducing to 2 feet thick at the top of the wall (1 story high).

The winter nighttime low temps in my area average in the 20s to 30s in the
winter with occasional dips into the teens and less frequent dips to single
digits and far less frequently we get the occasional below 0 degrees F.

The winter daytime highs average in the 40s with the occasional dips of
course similar to the nighttime dips.

The climate is also at high humidity levels most of the time as I am in a
temperate rain forest climate in the southern Appalachian mountains.

Deborah Denmark
Cullowhee, NC