[Strawbale] Hot water storage concept - insulation

[Joaquin Brintrup]

David, 

If you can keep food for years inside a "tetra box"
without rotting, why shouldn't be possible to use the
same material to keep straw bales dry too? I will say
it again, I have never tried it, but the principle is
reasonable. 
All the experiments I know of using straw bales
underground did not managed to keep the bales dry,
that is why they failed. 
I have to admit that I'm not so sure how usefull it
would be, considering the extra cost for the
wraping/envelope, but it should work.
Now for Corwyn's specific problem, and considering the
 "green factor", I think that pumice is a better
soulution.

Joaquin 

PS:Please don't mind my English

--- David Neeley <dbneeley at gmail.com> wrote:

> Joaquin,
> 
> I wonder if you've actually done any research on
> this? Using straw
> bales underground has been tried many times, with
> usually distressing
> results. The bales wind up succumbing to a rather
> nasty black mold and
> wind up in a liquid state known in the straw bale
> community as "fetid
> goo brew."
> 
> Not a good idea at all, I'm afraid.
> 
> David
> 
> On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 10:01 AM, Joaquin Brintrup
> <jbrintrup at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> >  Now, under the earth, you could still use straw
> bales,
> >  if they are absolutely water proof.
> (breathability is
> >  not a problem here). Some time ago I was playing
> with
> >  the idea of using straw bales covered with
> plastic, or
> >  something like a huge "tetra box", so you can be
> able
> >  to use in under the earth in contact with
> humidity.
> >  Never tried it, though, and since you need
> plastic it
> >  is also not 100% green solution.
> 



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