Eco-Dome
CalEarth’s Eco-Dome can be built out of nothing more than dirt, barbed wire, and the same kind of polyethylene bags used to make sandbags to contain floods. The house will probably last longer if you mix some cement with the dirt, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
The bags come in the form of a continuous tube, and the house is constructed of layers of dirt-filled “snakes,” with barbed wire laid between them to keep them from moving.
This 400 sq. ft. home is one of CalEarth’s plans that can be built from the dirt on your land.
It’s 21st-century adobe: faster and easier than traditional adobe construction, because you don’t have to make and dry individual bricks. This construction technique can be learned quickly by anyone, and is about the cheapest possible way to build lasting shelter. But these are by no means temporary buildings; they are so robust that they meet California building codes.
Plans and a DVD and bags are available at the CalEarth’s Eco-Dome web site.
Eco-Dome video of the construction:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMNzoWkXTtc
Eco-Dome pictures of the structure.
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14 Responses to “Eco-Dome”
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Where is this house located?
Hi David,
This dome is located at the Cal-Earth Institute Site: 10177 Baldy Lane, Hesperia CA 92345. You can also learn more by going to the site at: http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm
Kent
Hello Dave,
How long do the bricks (or snakes) take to dry? Can the snakes be made shorter (1/2 the length) so a woman could
carry and build this dome dome home?
Hi Jean,
According to the photos on the ordering page you fill the tube as you go. Go to this link http://www.calearth.org/ProductsServices/bagorder.htm you should be able to handle it.
what is the wind scoop for?
hello,
i’m also interested why is wind scoop for? thnx
GREAT Home
see…
http://www.EarthBall.org
Later, Roger@RogerART.com
is that type of house be in a tropical humid climate (rainy and cyclons)?
how long does it take to build one
That would depend how many people you have working and the availability of materials. Please go to the EcoDome webiste for more information: http://www.calearth.org/EcoDome.htm You can also contact them and get more specific answers.
ok so how many hours would it take to build the 800 sq foot one with 10-12 people?
I personally don’t have the answer, you will need to get in contact with the people who have made them. Please see reply above and let us know what you find out.
will this hold up in snow? rain? Need to know. Would like to build one.
They hold up fine in snow and rain. Flooding requires some care: proper choice of land and, in some circumstances, retaining walls would be necessary, as with any building. Finished over with lime plaster and painted, they’re as watertight as the next building.
The wind scoop is for ventilation, in lieu of expensive and energy-expensive fans and AC units.
The size of the bags should not change whether or not a woman can participate in construction, principally because you will NOT want to move the bags far once they are filled. You put the bag more or less where it will be, then move the earth to it.
I have read estimates of 4 rice bags/hour for 2 people working together. These aren’t the long tubes you see in the picture, but 50 and 100-lbs rice bags. If you can count out the length of the bags, then figure about 7″ per bag-row, that should give some idea.