Comments on: The 42% Solution http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2006/11/21/the-42-solution/ Your Earth, Your Home ~ in South Africa Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:58:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Minyon http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2006/11/21/the-42-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-17962 Minyon Wed, 28 May 2008 14:47:36 +0000 http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2006/11/21/the-42-solution/#comment-17962 Thank you. You have left me pondering those points and eagerly awaiting your book. It'll be such a relief to get some genuine information relative to the South African market, climate, costs etc. Thank you. You have left me pondering those points and eagerly awaiting your book.

It’ll be such a relief to get some genuine information relative to the South African market, climate, costs etc.

]]> By: boroughs http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2006/11/21/the-42-solution/comment-page-1/#comment-17959 boroughs Wed, 28 May 2008 14:30:47 +0000 http://www.greenerhouse.co.za/2006/11/21/the-42-solution/#comment-17959 Minyon, I admire your energy and enthusiasm. You are right, I should write a book that covers all of these issues, and I am determined to do so. In the meantime, I'll give you a few thoughts. On the footprint of solar photovoltaic panels, the manufacturers are surprisingly quiet about this issue. But one study determined that panels save more energy than was required to make them in less than two years of use. You can read about it here: http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=519886&ez_search=1 Like you, I am familiar with alternative building techniques, but not an expert. Any building material that avoids the use of cement, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is a big leap forward. Beyond that, you would probably be splitting hairs to worry about whether rammed earth is greener than straw bales. The more important issues would be which is more practical to create a durable house that is energy efficient. Which will allow reasonably large, north-facing windows? Which insulates best? Which has the best track record for durability? Which doesn't require regular applications of paint? I'm quite confident that those are some of the important questions. I'm less certain of the answers. Just wait for my book. Minyon,
I admire your energy and enthusiasm.
You are right, I should write a book that covers all of these issues, and I am determined to do so. In the meantime, I’ll give you a few thoughts.
On the footprint of solar photovoltaic panels, the manufacturers are surprisingly quiet about this issue. But one study determined that panels save more energy than was required to make them in less than two years of use. You can read about it here: http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=519886&ez_search=1

Like you, I am familiar with alternative building techniques, but not an expert. Any building material that avoids the use of cement, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, is a big leap forward. Beyond that, you would probably be splitting hairs to worry about whether rammed earth is greener than straw bales. The more important issues would be which is more practical to create a durable house that is energy efficient. Which will allow reasonably large, north-facing windows? Which insulates best? Which has the best track record for durability? Which doesn’t require regular applications of paint?
I’m quite confident that those are some of the important questions. I’m less certain of the answers. Just wait for my book.

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