Does constructing a monolithic dome have an impact on the environment? Right now, the environmental concerns are not perfected as well as I'd like to see. But at least it is within shooting range. Anything...
Anything a human does or builds will have an impact on the environment. If a person stands in the middle of an uninhabited island and does nothing except breathe, they will have an impact on the environment. Some effects are negligible, others profound, with millions of variants in between. The trick is to weigh positive and negative effects and determine a feasibility ratio.
Monolithic dome homes do not have any more of a negative impact on the environment than a traditional home in any developed country. In most cases monolithic homes have a positive effect on its immediate environment and the world at large.
According to David South, founder of the Monolithic Dome Institute, located in Italy, Texas, monolithic dome homes use fewer raw materials for construction than do traditional homes.
"I use less than half as much concrete as most houses," says David.
Traditional homes are constructed using wood as the framework of the house. Boards are nailed together to create the skeleton, then drywall and insulation are added. Most roofs are made from plywood with the shingles laid on top. Wood is a natural resource which renews it self slowly. It takes years to grow a tree.
Monolithic dome construction also uses no wood, which means few trees need to be harvested to meet human housing needs.
Since a monolithic home is built to withstand the elements for generations to come, future lumber needs are also reduced dramatically.
Development of a monolithic home has less impact on neighboring wildlife, water run off, and farm area. The shape of the dome is more natural and less threatening to local animals. Since there is no foundation required, the monolithic home does not interfere with water absorption. If desired, a monolithic home can be built underground and the soil space on top used to grow crops.
Insulation materials in a dome home are usually chemical based, but David South tells us, "With the insulation, yes I do use a chemical-based foam, but if you're really fussy about it, we can use a soy-based urethane."
The shape and open floor plans of a monolithic home mean less surface area per square foot of living space. This translates into less energy needed for heating and cooling the home. Average energy needs of a monolithic home are half or less than the traditional home.
Reduced energy means fewer natural resources are need to produce electricity. David South says, "after that dome house is built, my energy consumption is thousands of tons of coal that don't have to get burned."
Overall, monolithic dome homes provide the best ecological solutions for a world that is growing in population and depleting its nonrenewable resources.
According to David South, experts agree that a monolithic dome is the most energy efficient and ecologically sound homes available today. "Most of the people that I deal with that are academics tell me the same thing. As far as they are concerned, this is as green a building as you can make a building. I really believe that."
