Earthships

I initially missed this post for some reason, I would rather keep conversations here so others can access them,

 

I cant coment weather it's better or not I would not be the wiser, hust recently learned about the tripple panes did not know such were beeing made, a tripple pane may be a good insulator I will give you that but the point is in the original design the greenhouse also serves a purpose with summer cooling or so they say, and I could see it work

 

I certainly will look into it, now we are going somewhere, like I said if windows prove to be an issue I'd rather first look into ways of improving them rather than simply cut them out

 

it's becoming more and more aparent that the whole concept of a global model is not such a great Idea one design fitts all. my first clue was the roof pitch in a michigan winter I would like to take in all the sun I can get.
I'm glad you guys got in on this because you bring up some real concerns, I have a good understanding of fizics and I can see how you make a valid point. At the same time I'd rather hear it now than after I built it even if it bursts my bubble.
for example I can see how the angled windows may sag and be a bitch to seal, the third row of posts I penciled in are there just to support the weight of that crooked wall, I kind ouf like it honestly but I am trying to keep an open mind, and not get atteched to it.
the whole concept of a buffer zone is almoast a must for me especially if not well insulated, making that outside wall vertical actually simplifies the build a lot, that whole third row of poles would not be needed, I'm going to have to pencil some of htese things in and see how it looks.
at the same time if angled is going to be the final design and 12 feet tall I definatelly have to keep in mind reinforcement.

I am not advocating one design over another by any means if I provided some sort of justification for some aspects is because is what I read about it, not necesarily my thoughts but had to bring an argument as to why build it this way and not the other, deffinatelly lots to consider.

George

 

I think you were right, most important is not to get attached to one idea or another, I was kindof growing fond of the angled glass I liked it honestly, I drew this last night based on some of the disscussion here and other forumangled glass, and drew iut vertical instead, that alone simplifies the build a lot the third row of posts were there in the old one just to prop thet wall of glass up so I eliminated a third of the foundation work, some of the concerns that were brought up about sagging and sealing are much eliminated, I also moved the 2 ft rammed earth on the outside of the framework and gained some square footage , as for the roof I left it at 12 inch thick aprox R48 on a bad day, floor is about R24 and so are the walls, I read a bit on some of the work the sweedish have done particularily insulated shalow foundations, and drew mine like, I need to do more reading into the pasivehous came across the name briefly need to know more.
in the end I am growing quite fond of this new drawing, maybe I'll have to tweek it some maybe more insulation in the roof, the winter sun exposure diminished a bit part because the 4 ft wall on the south side is closer to the living space but I can live with that most of you thought it was too much before even now still, I can live with it considering all the headackes it eliminates, and honestly I am not sure if heat gain in the winter will be affected at all due to the vertical angle but in the sunmer solstice sun the glass is at a much shallower angle hopefully bouncing off more light than it alows in, ( I know don't hope, rough gutt feeling for now once I decide on something we'll see about the math ) thanks to all that pitched in

 

Passivhaus For Beginners | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com

came across this, and at a glance they use twice the amount of insulation compared to my latest drawing, couple of the examples are in Ilinois and Minesota lose enough for a rough guide, I grew up with liquid filled radiators, never been a fan of forced air, some of the pasivhouse text confirms it too, thou solar gain is not one of their interest.

you are looking at mass from a cooling perspective, not so mush of my concern, sure many people bitch about the summer beeing hot some run the airconditioning from aril to november, supposedly the moisture, I am loving every bit of it, the reason I am looking at building massive walls is to store some of that sunshine, one would not make any sense without the other

 

I see there is a point where the thermall mass can hold more heat than it will ever be provided, beyond that it's pointless, I still like lots of glass to the south, highteck tripple panes with coatings are out of the question I don't even want to know what they cost, the idea is to use repurposed or miscuts, as it is I am planning on 2 glass walls, one on the outside and one in between the south row of poles, if anything as far as insulation is concerned that will be the weak spot, my south wall if you will is made out of 2 double pane walls with about 5 feet of air in between, that is another way to look at it, what the real R value will be? not sure it was brought up earlier that the 5 feet of air/buffer zone vill have convevtion currents and such

 

I have been reading into the passivhaus, the concept is not so much concerned with solar gain but rather insulation and air tightness. I am looking to do both honestly,
The concept of a house too hot in the winter in Michigan without fuel, I am still having a hard time imagining, the whole idea is to colect as much in the day ( sun ) release it at night, without the mass it might be too hot during the day and not enough at night, I think we are talking about the same thing in some sense.
the other thing I insist into rammed earth wall it supposed to help with the moisture
I have been bussy drawing all day at this point my concern is that with this much mass above the insulation will implode, the roof structure is supported by the poles I could see the walls/floor sinking . I am thinking a compromise might be in order and do away with the insulation at least on the perimeter that back wall is about 10 feet of rammed earth on top of the insulation