Hi Charles
On (24 Sep 96) CHARLES WARREN wrote to ALL...
 CW> Any ideas or suggestions on unusual or different bldg materials for a 
 CW> 1-2 bedroom home.
I reckon that thermal comfort and lighting are very important. If you fail
there, then you have a future energy penalty to pay.
My 70th birthday isn't too far ahead so I have been in lotsa houses.
Suggest- the room that is occupied the most should be central and have no
external walls. In our present house this comprises kitchen/dining/TV
watching/library as an open plan space. It is surrounded by other rooms, 
oors
provided to each. Result- moderate thermal conditions thru summer [40degC] 
nd
winter [-5degC]. The reverse cycle heatpump has an easy life.
Suggest- that central room should be extensively glazed on the sunny side
[south for you, north for me] and the next room to the south also extensively
glazed. SO there is plenty of natural light in the living space, thru the
year.
Suggest- extra roof overhang ie wide eaves, on the sunny side. This keeps
summer sunshine off the exterior windows [for indoor cool] but in winter with
the sun toward the horizon, there is lotsa light and heat able to enter the
house thru windows.
Suggest- heavy curtain fabric, all windows capable of being covered. If this
isn't pretty enough then have a second curtain rod at the window, with the
flimsy cute nylon curtain as well, for show.
Suggest- concentrate any thermal insulation into the ceiling and external
walls. Floor insulation is not economic if you have a carpeted floor- there 
s
very little heat flow downward. Internal walls could be insulated too,
especially those near the house perimeter.
Suggest- put a couple of cheap digital thermometers indoors, plus an outdoor
type that can be read indoors. These will give you good data, when to open/
close windows curtains etc or start exhaust fan. Don't trust your body 
enses,
we are very poor as thermometers.
Cost of course is the main prob. 
 CW> Are the old cabooses still available ? 
 CW> What about "sod" ? Our western settlers used it. 
 CW> Old wine tanks ? 
 CW> I saw a lady on the local news (Memphis Tenn area) whom had bought the 
 CW> body of a "727" and converted it. She said the shell was only $2000. 
These oddball accommodations might be unhealthy, you could be poisoned by
nasty substances that accumulate. No danger for occasional use [holiday 
abin]
but to spend years in an aircraft fuselage would expose your delicate organs
to some foreign nasties. A caboose may have been overdosed with fire 
etardant
or insecticide. In an aircraft, asbestos, plastic vapours, rare metals,
halides, synthetic oils for example. Very small amounts that defy detection,
may do you real damage.  Cheers...ALEC
... If you don't go to other people's funerals, they won't go to yours.
--- PPoint 1.92
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