[Strawbale] re. metal vs. plastic mesh / electric field issues

[SArjuna at aol.com]

     Andrew Morrison sent me the following, in response to my Q about metal 
vs. plastic mesh.   Following his remarks is my response to his questions.

Andrew wrote:

    The biggest issues I see with the plastic mesh are its lack of
structural strength and the weakness it offers for shaping bale corners
around windows, etc...In some of the buildings we build, the mesh is an
integral part of the structural shear system.  With welded wire mesh, we
gain strength but the plastic mesh offers no real value to the system.  In
addition, the plastic mesh does not hold its shape as well as metal mesh
does when shaping window and door openings.  We use both plastic and metal
but I prefer the metal for ease of construction. Plastic is less aggressive
to work with and cuts easily, but it also is harder to attach to the walls
at wood framing because the pneumatic stapler often blows right through the
tabs. 
     I hear the concern about the electronic fields, and I am open to
ideas about that.  Is it possible to ground the mesh in a way that would
direct the electrical noise into the earth?

     Shivani responds:
     
     There are a couple of problem with this, big ones.
     One is that the earth (terra firma) is no longer at zero potential.   
The electric utilities are using the earth to return about 70% (in some areas, 
more) of the electricity to their substations.    You might be lucky and find a 
current-free spot to ground to, but you'd be about as likely to hit a spot 
with high-frequency ground current, and bring that into the house.
     The electricity delivered by the utility in most areas these days is 
extremely "polluted" or "dirty" with health-damaging high frequencies.   
High-frequency electricity behaves quite differently from 50/60 Hz.    It is subject 
to "the skin effect," meaning that it tends to spread out and travel over the 
surfaces of things (even things that wouldn't ordinarily be thought of as very 
conductive).   There are invisible rivers of current, sometimes as much as 100 
feet wide, flowing over the surface of the earth on their way back to the 
substation, because the utility transmission system is 50 years old and was never 
designed to deal with high frequencies.   In addition, each house will 
usually have its own river heading out to retun to the substation.   (This can be 
mapped if you have an oscilloscope.   We've done it here at our place.)
     Another problem, even if you found "clean" earth to ground to, is that 
grounding the mesh would most likely then create a loop circuit for the 
high-frequency to travel on.   Onto the mesh, onto the ground, then back onto water 
pipes/wiring/metal rain spouts/another area of mesh.....
     There are things one can do to forestall the high frequencies "getting 
loose" in the house, yes, but offering an attractive pathway like metal mesh, 
that involves the entire building, is at the absolute other end of the 
spectrum.
     Are there any builders here who prefer the plastic mesh?   If so, would 
you kindly say something about why?
     If any of you have an electric field meter that is capable of 
identifying high-frequency fields (and distinguishing them from 60 Hz) I would much 
apreciate hearing what kind of readings you get in various SB buildings.
     Regards,
     Shivani Arjuna
     Life Energies
     (www.LifeEnergies.com   Where there is lots more info. about electrical 
pollution & electrosmog.)