the case for eco-domes

8/2/2019 The Case for Eco-Domes

1/12

THE CASE FOR ECO-DOMES

AS A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING ALTERNATIVE

Final Project for:

Principles of Sustainability IGlobal Sustainability Certificate

University of California Los Angeles

Prepared by:

Mauricio Jaramillo


2/12

2

March 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.

Objective3

II. Background3

III. Stakeholders...4

IV. The case for Eco-Domes ..6

V. Statistics11

VI. Resources..12


3/12

3

I. Objective

The objective of this final project is to present the case for eco-domes as a sustainablehousing alternative; more over this final project presents a real project as example and

explore the role of its stakeholders and the three basic principles of sustainability

(Economic Vitality, Social Equity, and Ecological Health).

II. Background

Back in 2008 a group of friends, all professional Civil Engineers interested in their social

responsibility and learning more about sustainable design. They decided to help a small

nursing home in Baja California-Mexico; the needs over there were many but it wasidentified one in particular that required immediately attention. The manager of the

nursing home was leaving in substandard conditions and the group decided to build a

home for him next to the nursing home and the eco-dome was the most feasible structure

to meet the groups interest and the economic constrictions.

Before we attempt to make the case for eco-domes as a sustainable housing alternative

we need to define sustainability and establish a methodology to assess the sustainable

qualities of eco-domes.

Sustainability is the long-term maintenance of responsibility, which has environmental,

economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the

responsible management of resource use. In ecology, sustainability describes howbiological systems remain diverse and productive over time, a necessary precondition for

the well-being of humans and other organisms.

Human sustainability interfaces with economics through the voluntary tradeconsequences of economic activity. Moving towards sustainability is also a social

challenge that entails, among other factors, international and national law, urban

planning and transport, local and individual lifestyles and ethical consumerism. Ways of

living more sustainable can take many forms from controlling living conditions(e.g., ecovillages, eco-municipalities and sustainable cities), to reappraising work

practices (e.g., using permaculture, green building, sustainable agriculture), or developing

new technologies that reduce the consumption of resources.

Methodology this final project tried to use the Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED) rating to assess the eco-domes sustainable qualities but it was

unpractical since LEED is design for more conventional homes. In this way we opted for


4/12


5/12


6/12

6

UCLA Students Experimented with new construction techniques and learned

principles of sustainability that complemented their school programs.

Volunteers- Undergraduate students from UCLA

IV. The case for Eco-domes.

The first thing to do if we want to create a sustainable building is to eliminate the use ofany toxins. Eco-Domes are built using the earth itself as material. No chemicals or toxins

are used, just lime stabilized in bags, and sometimes cement is added in wetter climates.

The end result is a very pretty and stable house that meets strict earthquake requirements.

Traditional shelters of this type seemed much more in tuned with the earth energies thanour modern boxes of today, with their sharp corners and cold atmosphere, sealed

windows and recycled air.

When you enter a round structure that rises directly up from the earth yet remains

connected to it, you enter the very womb of Earth herself. Immediately, you feel "home,"

you feel protected, you feel the love of the place.


7/12

7

Eco-Dome at its final construction stage

We are unaware of the damage to both our health and nature, caused by conventional

construction methods.

Why Eco-Domes?

They are built with the sun, wind and shade in mind for passive heating andcooling

Built using the earth itself as material (90% of the material used is dirt) Minimum carbon foot print Affordable


8/12

8

Volunteer digging dirt that later is use to fill the plastic-fiber tube

Volunteers preparing a plastic-fiber tube to be fill

with dirt on top of the last row on the eco-dome


9/12

9

Picture from above showing the floor frame for the second story

Application of a second layer of adobe to the exterior


10/12

10

Finishing of the first floor using adobe-concrete

View of the first floor with final stucco on the walls and ceramic title in the floor


11/12

11

VII. Statistics.

Cost distribution


12/12

12

Number of students vs. professional that volunteer in the project

Number of Female workers vs. Male workers that volunteer in the project

VI. Resources

www.calearth.org

http://youtu.be/mpz5Gq1plhM

the case for eco-domes

Documents