Renewable energy developments

[pinkeye]

I'm not a pessimist, but a realist, don't hold out any of the blind empty hope that everyone seems to be clinging to.

You're right about buildings, they are built today purely on cheap economic grounds, not safety or longevity. One side of my family is Tasmanian, have had a property down here for decades, but had the business based in the ACT for a long time. But lived in the snowies until 1997, then moved to Tas permanently.

After the massive fire storm in the Sth east which devastated Dunnely, where I have lots of friends. suggested to those rebuilding to build earth covered homes like mine, but they all rebuilt with modern flammable materials and the next fire storm, which will be in the next couple of years, will wipe them out again.

I'm a builder by trade, that's where got my money to build up my company into what it is today. Have built many earth covered self sufficient homes last century, you'd think that side of building would grow as people realised what is happening with global warming. But it has dwindled to almost nothing, as people take the short term option of cheap, junk, flimsy, highly flammable materials and that's the case with all building today.

To me, this is a sign of how far from reality everyone lives and how they are more interested in their short term economic standards, than long term survival standards. That's why i say no hope for big cities in the future and with concentration on single point distribution and long grid lines. As climate changes and weather ramps up, their gird systems will collapse over and over.

If you've lived in Tas for any length of time, you;d realise how vulnerable the grid is, there is constant power failures round the state. That's because of the strong winds we always get here, so when these start hitting Aus and grids collapse, cities will start suffering badly.

I agree with you Dax. What you say makes sense. So I'd suggset Monk talks to you about the ins and outs .
If I were seriously in the market for same, I'd talk to you about it.

But, no, I think I'm going to have to manage with my wee house, as I am.

You are obviously a survivalist, so you also obviously, have a family and crew to look out for. More power to you.

[HBS Guy]

I have read a bit about earth covered homes, thermally very efficient. Some greenhouses use earth cover too. Based on the fact that about 1metre down the soil is at a constant temperature and soil is a good insulator. My inclination tho is to straw bale.

Due to crap drainage my house has to be lifted up off the ground a bit.

[Dax]

I'm not a pessimist, but a realist, don't hold out any of the blind empty hope that everyone seems to be clinging to.

You're right about buildings, they are built today purely on cheap economic grounds, not safety or longevity. One side of my family is Tasmanian, have had a property down here for decades, but had the business based in the ACT for a long time. But lived in the snowies until 1997, then moved to Tas permanently.

After the massive fire storm in the Sth east which devastated Dunnely, where I have lots of friends. suggested to those rebuilding to build earth covered homes like mine, but they all rebuilt with modern flammable materials and the next fire storm, which will be in the next couple of years, will wipe them out again.

I'm a builder by trade, that's where got my money to build up my company into what it is today. Have built many earth covered self sufficient homes last century, you'd think that side of building would grow as people realised what is happening with global warming. But it has dwindled to almost nothing, as people take the short term option of cheap, junk, flimsy, highly flammable materials and that's the case with all building today.

To me, this is a sign of how far from reality everyone lives and how they are more interested in their short term economic standards, than long term survival standards. That's why i say no hope for big cities in the future and with concentration on single point distribution and long grid lines. As climate changes and weather ramps up, their gird systems will collapse over and over.

If you've lived in Tas for any length of time, you;d realise how vulnerable the grid is, there is constant power failures round the state. That's because of the strong winds we always get here, so when these start hitting Aus and grids collapse, cities will start suffering badly.

I agree with you Dax. What you say makes sense. So I'd suggset Monk talks to you about the ins and outs .
If I were seriously in the market for same, I'd talk to you about it.

But, no, I think I'm going to have to manage with my wee house, as I am.

You are obviously a survivalist, so you also obviously, have a family and crew to look out for. More power to you.

Could be a survivalist, mainly like to be comfortable and safe. My family all look after themselves and have their own safe homes, well away from cities and me. Whose Monk?

[Dax]

I have read a bit about earth covered homes, thermally very efficient. Some greenhouses use earth cover too. Based on the fact that about 1metre down the soil is at a constant temperature and soil is a good insulator. My inclination tho is to straw bale.

Due to crap drainage my house has to be lifted up off the ground a bit.

To get the best thermal conditions, you need 1.5m of soil over and around you. The temp under those conditions, sits between 21-25deg and is wonderful to live in.

In my opinion, straw bales are a short term solution, everyone forgets straw breaks down into powder over time and have seen the results of that in straw bale homes over 10 years old. If you get any water ingestion into straw bale walls, you can end up with a really bad situation.

The second best approach, is rammed earth walled homes, they will last for centuries and provide good insulation. My walls are rammed earth and rock. You can build a big earth covered home with rammed earth/rock walls for about 1/3 the cost of a modern matchbox home and it will survive just about anything, except a big earthquake.

Here's an example of Tas grid reliability yesterday, when we had winds close to 100kph.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-16/s ... tenews_tas

[johnsmith]

Whose Monk?

Monk = HBS Guy = Jovial Monk = owner of this forum

[Jovial Monk]

This is me (HBS Guy) in the Founder/Admin account.

I should have called that one HBS Guy.

Anyway, just call me Monk.

“Jovial Monk” was the name of my home brew shop, inspired by the Belgian trappist monks who brew godly beer!

[HBS Guy]

Strawbale houses have survived for a very long time, 100 years. Yes, straw may get damp, hence the use of lime plaster inside, lets that moisture evaporate.

[HBS Guy]

I will need stumps/piers down into the bedrock to lift the house above ground level, that might complicate matters. Since we have to do that I reckon raise the house half a metre, means I can have my cellar! Doable with steel joists.

[pinkeye]

I will need stumps/piers down into the bedrock to lift the house above ground level, that might complicate matters. Since we have to do that I reckon raise the house half a metre, means I can have my cellar! Doable with steel joists.

Like many other fields of endeavour, home building has many options. The real decider is the $. If you have heaps.. no worries.
If you don't, you have to be very smart.
Your site should be the main source of inspiration for your choice of building technique. If you must elevate your home, due to drainage issues, your choices are crucial.
Sorry but Strawbale just doesn't sound appropriate for the site, from what you have said.

[HBS Guy]

It may not be, now that I have had some local knowledge imparted.

But if I have to lift the house a bit lifting it more is not going to increase costs that much, and I can have a cellar even if not a “true” cellar. Have to make sure it stays dry in winter but that is OK

[pinkeye]

I don't know about the geo in your area... so if you want to go eco, using wood is an excellent idea. Umm Pole-frame..? ..

In any rural area, if you have native forest around, being so far south and subject to dry spells, and remembering recent history, fire is a major consideration.

I'd love an earth-covered home. That'd be my choice,... nay indeed It was my preference, but when faced with reality... $$$ site.. advice.. mainly $ and lack of knowledge left me with a wee cottage, sturdy wooden and comfortable.
NOT the home of my dreams.. but the home I have.

You want a home that hunkers into the landscape, with deep connections to the earth..... from what I have gleaned from some of your posts.

Hey I don't read them all. But drainage is a necessary consideration, if you are located in , say a flood plain, or strong river catchment area.

So you may need to remain above ground level. To do otherwise could/would be prohibitive in cost terms. Hmm very interesting.