How does a Rammed Earth wall work?
Typical insulation resists the transfer of thermal energy – heat or cold. The level of resistance of a material is its R-value. Earth walls also resist a change in temperature, but unlike typical insulation a Rammed Earth wall also stores thermal energy. It is this quality that allows an earth wall to have a low R-value yet still provide a superior level of comfort. It’s called the ‘fly-wheel effect’ and it’s free. You felt it the last time you walked barefoot on your patio. Maybe the evening was cold but your patio was toasty warm. Or perhaps the morning was warm and your patio was refreshingly cool. Rammed Earth walls work the same way. Think of Rammed Earth walls as ‘thermal batteries’. Summer cool – As the sun rides high on the horizon a shaded wall stays cool through the day, only slowly absorbing heat from the air instead of directly from exposure to the sun. All day long that cool wall is helping to keep the interior of the house cool as well. At night when the air cools the wal
