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| Why Go To The Trouble I am very concerned about the pattern of extravagant home-building in our country. Automatically included in these "packages", among other items, is expensive air-conditioning equipment designed to accommodate for the wasteful home-building characteristics. We really can't keep on being so foolish and greedy about our energy usage. I would like to try to avoid the use of or, at least, total dependence upon air-conditioning. |
| What Are The Challenges I have a strong desire to rely upon the physical characteristics of the Earth itself to cool my home. And, hopefully, to simplify the dependence on financial resources, others' services and wasteful usage of the "grid" to support a comfortable life-style for myself. This requires a house built upon different principles - principles that challenge you to re-think what is important to you in the appearance of your home - what is important in the functioning of your home - and, perhaps what is the hardest to change, what is important to your sense of status and self-esteem. Having dealt with these challenges, I have happily come up with a home based upon the monolithic dome concept and its advantages. |
| A Cooling Solution The basic leverage in the cooling system is the excellent insulation in the Dome's shell. Then the Vent-i-Lite allows hot air to escape at the top of the dome. The next element is tapping into the Earth's 52° - 55° temperatures down in the ground, below the "Constant Thermal Level" (CTL). Since the dome's base is located here, the dome's interior thermal mass will be cooled to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature outside. This then helps to pre-cool the home. The last step is to again rely upon the Earth's natural cooling ability by pulling outside surface air down below the "constant thermal level" into a basement or "cool air well" to cool it. Then it is pulled/pushed by a solar-powered fan to the top of the dome via ducts embedded in the dome's shell. The cool air then "falls" into the dome. This encourages circulation and leaves the interior at a very comfortable temperature even on the hottest of days. |
| A Sketch Of The "Cool Air Well" Here are the details of a possible "cool air well". Actually, there is some serendipity here - this "cool air well" can do double-duty as a root cellar !!! 1. Partially buried monolithic dome, shaped as a squared cylinder, turned on its end. Insulation is only in the areas above the "constant thermal level". 2. Filters: dust, insect, vermin, humidity. 3. Ceramic baffles: help concentrate the cooling effect. 4. Uptake pipe and Filters: dust, insect, vermin. 5. Fan and dehumidifier: runs on solar power. P.S. I recognize that a standard AC can be substituted for all the above. P.P.S. But I won't go down without a fight !!!!. |
| Another View Of The Above This sketch illustrates the north side of the dome where the air ducts are located. There is one main duct with minor side ducts for each of the bedrooms, bath, and 2 in the loft. The main duct ends with an opening for both the kitchen and the LR/DR. |
| Some Calculations - Really Rough Estimates -Testing the Possibilities 1. Fan moves 50 cubic feet of air per minute. 2. Say it takes 30 minutes for a cu. ft. of incoming air temp. to drop from 100° to target 60° - 65°. 3. You need a well with min. 1500 cu ft. below the CTL. (50 x 30 = 1500) 4. If the CTL is at 3 ft., a 225 sq. ft. dome must be at least 10 ft deep. (15 x 15 x (10 - 3)) = 1575 cu.ft.) |
| Some Questions 1. How many cubic feet of air per minute is adequate ?? 2. How much power must the fan have to push air up?? 3. Can solar power run the 2 fans ?? 4. Will the ducts weaken the dome's strength ?? 5. How big and deep would the "cool air well" have to be ?? 6. How much will the "cool air well" cost ?? 7. Will it actually work ?? 8. Is it feasible ?? 9. I don't know yet how deep the "CTL" is over at Possum Hollow. I will dig test holes this summer ... 10. If anyone out there has some info or advice, HELP !! |