Geodesic domes
Main > Housing and construction
It is possible to house and feed 5 people for £5000.
Geodesic domes can be built easily and cheaply and are the strongest and lightest structure yet conceived. Compared to a rectangular structure of similar size, they have half as much wall-area, which means they lose only half as much heat through the walls. This makes them very energy-efficient.
Housing Costs
- 6m diameter x 3m height strawbale dome:
- Double geodesic frame, 2'x1'=£400
- Strawbales=£200
- Vapour Barrier 60m^2= £50
- Damp proof course 60m^2=£50
- total=£700
- 12m diameter x 6m height strawbale dome:
- Double frame 2'x4'=£800
- strawbales = £350
- vapour barrier= £80
- Damp proof course= £80
- total=£1310
Housing Infrastructure cost
- Sewage; waste, drain and vent= £500
- Stove and chimney=£200
- 25 IBCs=£750
- 12v/200Ah battery x3= £615
- 1000w DIY Solar panels 18v x 4A x 14 panels=£200
(needed;wiring costs, bathroom plumbing, electrical fixings, glass for windows and panels)
- Total=£2265
Geodesic Aquaponics Full System Cost
- For a 12m diameter 2000sq^ft dome:
- 1000 linear meters of wood at 60p per meter = 600 pounds
- 226m^2 of polythene = 305 pounds
- 1000 fish aquaponics system:
- 6m x 5m pond liner = 45 pounds
- 15watts 12 vDC airpump = 110 pounds
- 50watt 12vDC water pump = 160 pounds
- 1000 carp = 300 pounds or 1000 bream = 888 pounds
- Subterranean heating and cooling system:
- 15w 12vDC inline fan = 35 pounds
- 100mm x 100m perforated drainage pipe = 146 pounds
- Solar system: 100w monocrystalline solar panel = 100 pounds
- 12v 100Ah absorbed glass mat batteries = 165 pounds
- 12v 15A charge controller = 40 pounds
- Miscellaneous: Piping = 50 pounds humidistats/thermostats/ timers = 50 pounds
- total 2100 pounds
to put this in perspective this system should theoretically produce at least 500 kg of fish per year, 4000 lettuce per week and 4000 bunches of tomatoes per week.
Discussion
A geodesic dome is built from a skeleton of triangles, covered with an outer skin. The skeleton could be made of wood, steel or other substances, which could probably be digitally fabbed.
- DIY calculator
- Polythene Prefabricated Panel Dome
- Free plans for a geodesic dome
- Useful tool: the dome calculator - calculates the building materials needed to build a dome of your chosen size
- Another dome calculator (the website is in Russian but it can be easily translated with Google Translate).
- Geodesic dome construction video-tutorial: Part 1 - Overview, Part 2 - Hub Construction, Part 3- Strut Construction
Many Uses
from the Pacific Domes website: event, shelter, Virtual reality projector, greenhouse, playground, sports, relief, wedding, yoga, bioenergy, Vaastu, aquaponic