Legacy Content: Stories About the Benefits of Dome Homes from Monolithic.org

This article is a list of links to all the articles on the legacy website Monolithic.org website relating to the benefits of Monolithic Dome homes. We are in the process of migrating these articles to this site. As we update and migrate each piece, you will see it disappear from this list. Meanwhile, the articles listed here provide good information that can now be more easily found.

Monolithic Dome Home Benefits Legacy Articles:

• Overall Benefits
• Energy Efficiency
• Green Construction
• Super Strength
• Earthquake Resistance
• Tornado and Hurricane Resistance
• Fire Resistance

Overall Benefits

Video: Modern Day Dream Homes—This video was created about 20 years ago but is still relevant today.

The True Cost of a Dome Home—The initial cost of a Monolithic Dome is usually the same as a custom-built, conventional home of equal interior finish. However, the long-term, day-to-day costs of a Monolithic Dome will always be lower. And the true cost of owning a dome home is substantially less.

Design Advantages of the Monolithic Dome—David B. South discusses the benefits of Monolithic Domes.

Wind, Water, Corrosion and Monolithic Domes—Building a beachfront home offers a few extra challenges such as wind, water, erosion, flying debris and corrosion. A Monolithic Dome home successfully meets each of these challenges.

More about Monolithic Dome Home Benefits—Monolithic Dome homes range from cozy-cute to palatial and include everything in between. So you can plan for what you need or all you want.

Back to top ↩︎

Energy Efficiency

A Cold Study Brings A Gratifying Result—Part one of a three-part series studying the energy efficiency of Chris and Maddy Eckers’ dome home in Galax, Virginia.

A Cold Study Follow-Up—Part two of a three-part series studying the energy efficiency of Chris and Maddy Eckers’ dome home in Galax, Virginia.

A Year of Energy Data for a Monolithic Dome—Part three of a three-part series studying the energy efficiency of Chris and Maddy Eckers’ dome home in Galax, Virginia.

California Energy Commission – PASSIVE SOLAR HANDBOOK—A technical explanation of the energy efficiency of the Monolithic Dome.

Monolithic Dome Owner Heats Home All Winter Using Light Bulbs—Monolithic Dome owner, Jerry Cleveland, recently sent us an E-mail about the super energy-efficiency of his Monolithic Dome in Minnesota and his unique approach to heating.

Monolithic Joins Energy Star Program—In 2002, Monolithic applied for and received official acceptance as an Energy Star Partner.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy—The Monolithic Dome is an idea whose time has come. It is a structure that is extremely energy efficient and sustainable without sacrificing the quality of life that we have come to expect in our homes and buildings.

Thermographs of Dome in Canada—Between the mass of the concrete and the spectacular values of the urethane insulation for all practical purposes there is no heat loss through the shell of the Monolithic Dome.

Back to top ↩︎

Green Construction

Monolithic Domes: The Ultimate “Green” Building?—In November 2003, Perry Gray-Reneberg wrote this article. He was teaching sustainable industrial technology to Northern California’s coastal community of Humboldt State University.

A Monolithic Dome Home = Dream Home + Green Home—Monolithic Domes conserve natural materials, space and electricity. Their construction does not deplete our planet’s shrinking forests. They require a smaller surface area and use fewer materials to enclose that area. And they are perfect candidates for a solar-thermal system that captures and uses the sun’s light and heat to light and heat a home.

Why is the Monolithic Dome “Green”?—As an answer to this question, we have outlined three of the most salient “green” points: Sustainability, energy efficiency, and use of green materials.

Chemical Sensitivity and the Monolithic Dome—Suggestions for people suffering from Chemical Sensitivity.

Back to top ↩︎

Super Strength

Another Testament To Dome Strength—This is a copy of an unsolicited email sent to Monolithic on January 30, 2008 from an army helicopter pilot who was serving in Iraq.

Monolithic Domes Have Blast-Resistant Strength—Monolithic Domes can withstand terrorist attacks better than most conventional buildings.

Monolithic Domes: Surviving Bullets, Projectiles, Tornadoes—How bulletproof is a Monolithic Dome?

Back to top ↩︎

Earthquake Resistance

Earthquake Safety – It’s Yours In A Monolithic Dome!—In simple terms, a Monolithic Dome will keep you and your loved ones safe during an earthquake. The dome has no moment connections—those points at which a wall meets a roof or a floor attaches to a wall.

Liquefaction and Earthquakes—An interesting idea proposed by David B. South.

Back to top ↩︎

Tornado and Hurricane Resistance

Ike, Gustav and Monolithic Domes—On September 1, Category 2 Hurricane Gustav blasted our southern coast, killing 138 people and causing an estimated $15 billion in damages. Just twelve days later, Category 2 Hurricane Ike, the third costliest U.S. hurricane and the most expensive in Texas history, killed 96 people and destroyed property to the tune of $27 billion.

Is round stronger than square? Round house survives Hurricane Charley—“On our street, we were the only ones who were OK,” Hogan quotes Magill as saying. “We didn’t have a penny of damage.”

Surviving Hurricanes and Tornadoes—Monolithic Domes provide “near-absolute protection” as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Tornado Hits Monolithic Dome in Durant, Mississippi—“Being in my house,” reports dome owner, Mrs. Lee Avery, “I felt no fear about the storm raging outside.”

The Shocking Truth about Lightning and Monolithic Domes—What will lightning do to a Monolithic Dome? Based on the evidence we have gathered and the opinions of experts we have questioned, not much of anything.

Back to top ↩︎

Fire Resistance

Monolithic Dome Survives Texas Wildfire—On Father’s Day, 2011, the Antelope Springs Ranch in Blackwell, Texas fell victim to a wildfire that blazed across the Lone Star State. This fire destroyed 100,000 acres before it was stopped.

Fire destroys contents, but Monolithic Dome only needs washing (and a paint job)—On Monday, Mar 25 we had a fire in the 20-foot dome that houses my long-arm quilting business. The fire demolished the contents, but the building only needs a wash, new electricals, a new floor, a new window and a paint job.

Fire in Monolithic Dome Extinguishes Itself!—“When I walked in, I saw that it had been a fire.” Italy Fireman Brad Chambers said, “I believe it was the coffee pot. It was either left turned on or shorted out.” However, the fire extinguished itself. The sheetrock, countertop and stove were damaged, but the dome did not burn.

Potential fire averted by air-tight Monolithic Dome—The Monolithic Dome is an air-tight structure. This Io-20 has a small AC unit with enough ventilation to keep the air fresh inside. However, the outside air supply is insufficient for a fire like this one. Essentially the fire was starved of oxygen before getting out of hand.

Thinking Outside the Circle—Chuck Peters decides to build a Monolithic Dome home after losing his previous house to a fire.

Back to top ↩︎