I have a load (bearing) respect for the practical and academic knowledge of both Caroline and Minke, however the 'instinctive' builder in me believe
that there's a heck of a difference between using small bales and big bales, hence that the research figures are not directly applicable?
It's more than simply multiplying % m3 of small bales to the equivalent of big bales, as the machinery for big bales compress a bale significantly more, and the strings are able to handle a much higher load. Look for yourself; when you cut open a small bale it goes 'poof' and expands; not so (much) with a big bale; it's been compressed 'dead'.
Last week I managed to make an application for funding of a workshop specifically focused on skill share about 'BBB' (Big Bale Building). We should know in April if it's funded, in such case it will be from September 1st to 1/09, right after the ESBG 2011, and here at PermaLot, Czech Republic. Facilitators will be Noe Solsana (F) and Lars Kallesen (DK); 2 of Europe's most experienced 'Big balers'. Even in case the workshop is not funded I'm pretty sure that this building development is going to be a significant topic for the ESBG, with several 'big balers' present.
Cheers,
Max Vittrup Jensen
PS; have a look at the PermaLot site under download for my M.Sc. comparison study between a conventional passive house, and one made from Big Bales. There's a fair amount of environmental data for those of you who's in to such geek'ism.
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