[Greenbuilding] [BULK] FW: Aerated Autoclaved Concrete

[Donald Eyermann]

Lawrence,

Here's some remarkable videos
http://www.isomax-terrasol.eu/de/politik/oel.html 

ZeroEnergy at cox.net

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Lawrence Lile
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:15 AM
To: Jan Fillinger; greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] FW: Aerated Autoclaved Concrete

>Despite that, the
proponenets state that the "effective" is  R-value is much higher due to the
"Dynamic Benefit of Massive Systems

This drivel has been promulgated for years by people who come up with poorly
insulated materials that are massive and can't figure any other way to
market them.  Log home dealers are also notorious for using this line. If it
could dip below zero for an hour and then climb back up to 70F, massive
materials would be OK, but it never does that.  When it is sub-zero outside
for several days, any effect due to mass is over with, and you are going to
miss your insulation and your house won't retain heat very well.  Insulate
your wall and forget about this stuff.  People evangelize about stuff
because it needs a hard sell, if it was really so great they wouldn't need
to work so hard.  

I could see using a material like this in a climate like New Mexico, where
it gets cool at night but always warms up in the day.  One night you might
be able to use the mass to some effect.  But a conventional wall and some
masonry inside will buy you the same thing.  


Lawrence Lile, PE, LEED AP
Project Solutions Engineering

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Jan Fillinger
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 2:09 PM
To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Cc: 'Mark Piepkorn'
Subject: [BULK] [Greenbuilding] FW: Aerated Autoclaved Concrete
Importance: Low

Hello:

 

I am designing an off-grid house in the Bend area of Oregon (high desert
climate, 340+ days of sun, winter lows around 20-30 deg, summer highs around
95-95 deg, summer RH of 15 to 35%) that will be mainly solar-heated.  We
have modeled the house with the Energy-Scheming software developed by
University of Oregon professor G.Z. Brown.  We know that the sun will
provide about 95% of the heat required to maintain comfort, as long as we
provide a sufficient amount of solar glazing, internal thermal mass, and
well insulated envelope.  The basic heating strategy is: solar heat gain
through large south facing glass (properly shaded against summer radiation,
of course), large surfaces of 4" thick thermal mass surfaces exposed to the
indoor air, and a tight well-insulated envelope.

 

Originally, the thought was to use staggered 2x4 @ 12" oc staggered on a
2 x
6 plate, so as to eliminate direct thermal bridging through the studs, and
all cavities filled with closed-cell polyurethane foam which eliminates any
infiltration. In order to meet the thermal mass heat storage needs as
defined by the computer program, in addition to a 5" slab (fully insulated
with rigid insulation underneath and around the perimeter), we were planning
to add 4" brick or concrete block veneer on the inside of the open public
spaces receiving the majority of solar heat gain.

 

However, I recently met with several contractors who have been building
Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (AAC) block homes around Bend.  This product was
originally developed in Germany under the name of Hebel.  

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