Living in an EcoShell While We Save For a Dream Dome?

[electradesigns]

My husband and I are moving to Texas soon. Our goal is to buy an acre or two of land and build our dream dome, but before we can do that, we have to save up. I was thinking that the best way to save money is to buy the land and build a small dome first, and to live in for a couple years while we continue to earn and save for our dream dome.

We both (it will just be the two of us) work from home (I make corsets and he is a graphic designer), so we require a bare minimum of 400 sq ft. for the "temporary home" which will be converted into a workshop/studio after our dream dome is built. For the temporary home, we could keep it very simple: one large room for everything (separate bathroom). We don't need anything fancy, just the basic necessities (toilet, shower, kitchen sink, electricity, plumbing).

Would it be feasible to use an EcoShell for this temporary home? We would probably need to live in it for 2 years or so. My understanding is that the EcoShell is just a cement/rebar dome with a door and cement floor, and no insulation. Is that correct? Could a small one be fitted with a few windows, plumbing and electricity? I understand the weather in Texas is fairly mild.

Would Texas (Austin Area) allow people to live in an EcoShell like that, or is there a problem with codes?
What would the difference in cost be between a Monolithic Dome and an EcoShell with the identical aforementioned amenities?
Would it make more sense to just go ahead and build a small MD? If so, why?

Thank you very much for your assistance.

[Cloud Hidden]

Much of the answer to your question lies in the work being done by Domes for the World (DFTW). They're leading the way in showing how Ecoshells can be habitat. In the next few weeks, they'll be having additional things to say on this matter, so keep an eye out. As for their applicability to Austin or any other area, it depends on code. Structurally there's no problem, of course. The thing to look at is the energy/insulation requirements. Some places have a stricter requirement than other places.

[electradesigns]

Cloud Hidden,
Thank you very much for your helpful reply. I will check out Domes for the World.

Much of the answer to your question lies in the work being done by Domes for the World (DFTW). They're leading the way in showing how Ecoshells can be habitat. In the next few weeks, they'll be having additional things to say on this matter, so keep an eye out. As for their applicability to Austin or any other area, it depends on code. Structurally there's no problem, of course. The thing to look at is the energy/insulation requirements. Some places have a stricter requirement than other places.

[ioda006]

I live in Austin. I would guess it may be difficult for you to put an ecoshell up as a residence in many places (not really government, but HOA restrictions), but if you're buying a couple acres you may not be near any of that anyhow.
I don't know if there are any restrictions state-wide or even county or city-wide about sqft/person requirements or anything like that. I know Williamson county is generally less strict than Travis county is though.
Have you guys lived in Texas or Austin for any amount of time? Don't move here if you have any allergy problems. Everything else is bearable, but I know lots of people who live here who are absolutely miserable because of that.

I'd encourage you to read about couples who have lived in tight places if you haven't yet tried it yourselves. Small trailers, RVs, ecoshell-sized places. Thomas Jefferson and his wife lived in an itty bitty tiny cottage (I think about the same size as you guys are thinking to build) while he was designing and building his dream home and it was no picnic.

[OpenD]

I would add that the weather in Texas depends a lot on the part of Texas you are talking about. It's a huge state, and local climes differ greatly. But for most of it, I would not describe the weather as mild, no.

Here in Austin (Central Texas, hill country) we've just had 31 straight days of over 100 degrees, and we aren't even to the hottest part of the summer yet. My A/C has been running pretty much 24/7, and I am in an unusually well insulated conventional home. I think that part of the reason so many Monolithic insulated domes have been built in Texas is due to their energy efficiency.

And yes, Central Texas is the allergy capital of the US, due to the fact that something is blooming every month of the year. I never had allergy problems until I moved here. I use a whole house HEPA air filter to help reduce the impact when I am at home now, but it is a partial solution at best.

On the plus side, I left my snow shovel in New England. You don't need one here.

OpenD

[dlvonde]

Welcome to Texas!

I would definitely recommend some sort of insulation as it can get very hot here in the summertime. I live in SouthEast TX and I don't know what I'd do without my Air conditioner!

I am 30 and it has snowed here (real snow, not ice or slush) twice in my lifetime, strangely both times were within the past 5 or so years! Must be the global warming!

[LongevityLodges]

I was born at Fort Hood, TX and my Dad was born in Crockett, TX so I know what it can be like. I like it in South Central Alaska.

Bud