I was wondering if one could build an eco dome in a more moist enviroment such as the one found in Indiana. I was planning on building one of these in the next year or so with four other people and was wondering if there is any tyoe of known build plan in this type of enviroment.
Ian… As far as I know, Cal-Earth had not built a superadobe structure in the midwest. In prolonged cold weather with little sunshine, a superadobe structure without good insulation would become a super heat wick. The desert is much different. I have discussed with the Cal-Earth folks the pros and cons of insulating inside vs. outside and it seems to be a 50/50 proposition. My choice… if there are people living in the structure and can keep a fire fed (or the furnace at 60ish degrees) so that the biomass does not cool down too much, then I would insulate the outside and reap the benefits of the flywheel effect of the thermal mass.
I was wondering if one could build an eco dome in a more moist enviroment such as the one found in Indiana. I was planning on building one of these in the next year or so with four other people and was wondering if there is any tyoe of known build plan in this type of enviroment.
Thank you.
Ian… As far as I know, Cal-Earth had not built a superadobe structure in the midwest. In prolonged cold weather with little sunshine, a superadobe structure without good insulation would become a super heat wick. The desert is much different. I have discussed with the Cal-Earth folks the pros and cons of insulating inside vs. outside and it seems to be a 50/50 proposition. My choice… if there are people living in the structure and can keep a fire fed (or the furnace at 60ish degrees) so that the biomass does not cool down too much, then I would insulate the outside and reap the benefits of the flywheel effect of the thermal mass.