With research data collected and published by Dr. Morony/ Professor Del Rio College,
Del Rio, Texas. We have tangible evidence on humidity mitigation strategies. Utilizing
an earthen approach (we recommend this) it is possible to maintain normal and comfortable
humidity levels within the living space naturally. Earthen architecture (rammed Earth,
Adobe and Compressed Earth Blocks) is a phase change material (PCM). PCM’s change
with the environmental shifts acting upon them. Being natural soil, they will have
a natural tendency to absorb moisture. For example, during the summer time as the
soil gets baked in the sun and through interaction with the wind moving over and
around it; it becomes dryer and dryer; to the point the soil can crack and split
open. This effect can be seen at the bottom of every river bed that has dried up.
You will see the soil will crack and peel- starved for moisture and when moisture
is added they act like a sponge and absorb it- changing their physical properties.
All earthen construction materials will react to this in varying degrees depending
on several variables ranging from soil compensation, density and type to exposure
frequency to moisture and heat. Dr. Morony has observed that earthen constructed
walls, with a thickness of 12 inches, can absorb 11 ounces of moisture per square
meter. For illustration purposes, think of a standard beer bottle. Most standard
longneck sized beer bottles contain 12 fluid ounces of liquid. A wall surface measuring
3 feet by 3 feet can absorb 95% of the liquid contained in that beer bottle. Likewise,
in a room that is 10 feet by 10 feet, the earthen walls can easily absorb a twelve
pack which will equate to 1.1 gallons of fluid. If you’re wondering how much steam
you can get from 1 gallon of water it is roughly about a 1603:1 ratio. That is a
lot of water vapor! So to conclude; humidity mitigation can be achieved without the
use of mechanical devices if you use a earthen type architecture. The water absorption
capability of earthen architecture is great enough to absorb the air moisture emitted
by taking a shower in a 6 foot by 6 foot bathroom. When you stepped out and looked
into the bathroom mirror your reflection would not be obscured by a fog... The earthen
architecture would have removed the moisture before it could accumulate onto the
mirror.
