I've tried two methods: foil bag with holes and open aluminum tray.I've soaked the chips overnightI have a gas grill so I have to put the bag or try on top of the triangular drip covers.
You can go to Home depot or Lowes and purchase a foil lined bubble wrapIt works very wellIt has been used as insulation in Hot Tubs for many yearshope I helped!
believe it or not strawlook up straw bale home on google it's a better insulator then what we usually useyou put plaster over the Straw and because of which they are also more fire retardant as wellalso lots of windows and there are metal tanks you can put in the wall that are full of water and you can use along with the that to heat the home! Straw bale housing saves on average 40 trees per house, saves lots of money because straw will not decompose do to its structure so farmers have to burn itsometimes to can get it for freeor very little cost but it has to be straw, hay has a different structurefor your project sake you could probably make cubes out of light brown construction paper and say it's strawgood luck!
Polystyrene foam would be the most practical for insulationI believe that you can buy thin stripsIn some zones, you may need to be careful about over glazing a house because it can get way to hot most of the yearAbout 30% of the heating bill in a normal household goes to heating water, you may want to include thermal heating as well as PV cells for electricalIf you have enough space, you might consider a three prop wind mill as well(Very cost effective for electricity.)
Fiberglass is the typical insulation material, but it isn't the most effectiveHow big of a model are you building? Here is some information on insulation R ratings per inch: Type R value Blown in Cellulose Insulation 3.70 per inch Fiberglass Insulation 3.14 per inch Expanded polystyrene4.00 per inch Extruded polystyrene 5.00 per inch Polyisocyanurate Polyurethane 6-7 per inch
This is how I've done it, and it works on a gas grillSoak chips (just a couple of hours will do fine)Place onto an aluminum foil rectangle (shiny side IN)Fold to completely close upPlace foil right on the stones, or as close to heat as you canClose coverLet cook for 15 minutes, or until the chips are definitely cookingTake foil off the heat sourcePut your food on the cooking grate; place foil with chips right beside it and open at the topCook the food with the chips, grill lid closedThe steam will come off of the chips and flavor the foodAt some point, the foil may burn through, but that's not a problemJust don't get the chips or foil right in the foodHappy eating!
