Where the air is pure and the water is clean,
the land is healthy and the plants are green.
Monolithic Dome Homes, my ideal EnviroHouse, are:
1. Strong...the dome is natures' and mans' strongest shape. The dome can withstand thousands of psi with no trouble, making worry about tornados and hurricanes and heavy snow and ice a thing of the past.
2. Economical...made of concrete and insulation, you will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. With an R value of over 40 and the concrete dome acting as a heat sink, you will lose less heat in the winter and keep more heat out in the summer.
3. Enviromentally Friendly...no wood is needed in the construction of a dome home's shell. The dome shell contains less concrete than you think, and over the long term, is more efficient, economical and earth friendly.
4. Esthetically Pleasing...the round shape lends to a near infinite choice of very interesting floor plans. The concrete dome exterior can be covered with a wide range of roofing materials and paints and textures. Stucco, cedar shakes, flexshake shingles, paint, etc. or just leave the airform as is on the outside to act as a weather barrier.
When I think of the home I will someday build, there are four things that are important to me. My new home must be strongly built, economical to maintain and build, healthy and easy on resources over the long haul, and easy on the eyes. After all, I will be living in it for the rest of my life with my wife and children. We deserve the best, but so does the environment, so build accordingly, eh?
This sample, a 24' Diameter dome, is cozy and just the right size for a couple just starting out. For more plan ideas, check out the link on the right.
