Frequently Asked Questions
Critical intelligence regarding environmental resilience.
Yes, initial capital expenditure is typically 30% to 60% higher than standard stick-frame homes. The cost comes from specialized materials (triple-pane glazing, high-density concrete) and engineered structures like deep foundation pylons. However, they drastically reduce lifelong heating/cooling costs and insurance premiums.
Yes. Monolithic domes are classified as offering near-absolute protection by safety agencies. Their aerodynamic shape negates wind uplift, and the steel-reinforced concrete easily withstands debris strikes propelled by 250+ mph winds.
Dry floodproofing seals the home completely so water cannot enter. It only works for shallow floods. Wet floodproofing intentionally allows water to flow through the lower unoccupied level (like a garage) to equalize hydrostatic pressure so the building walls don't collapse inward.
Because the building envelope is hermetically sealed to prevent heat loss, mechanical ventilation is mandatory. We use Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs). These exhaust stale interior air while pulling in fresh cold exterior air, transferring up to 90% of the outgoing heat to the incoming fresh air via a heat exchange core.
Standard wood framing has almost no thermal mass; it heats up quickly in the sun and turns the interior into an oven unless heavily air-conditioned. Rammed earth walls are 2 feet thick and absorb heat all day without passing it indoors, releasing it back out at night when it gets cold.
Yes, but it requires heavy redundancy. Solar arrays must be paired with massive deep-cycle battery banks and secondary generators. In cold climates, geothermal heat pumps and heavy wood reserves are often utilized to ensure survival when the solar arrays are buried in snow.
In high wind, we mandate polycarbonate glazing or impact-laminated glass (similar to a car windshield but thicker), sometimes paired with automated metal rolling shutters. In extreme cold, the threat is heat loss, necessitating triple or quadruple-pane argon-filled fiberglass frames.
Amphibious foundations are a high-tech flood defense. The home sits on a hollow concrete chassis filled with buoyant foam. Guideposts anchor the home into the earth. When a flood arrives, the entire home floats vertically up the posts, keeping the living space totally dry.