Living in a Geodesic Dome for Better Health with Morgan Bierschenk
Aug 16, 2024
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Morgan Bierschenk, founder of GeoShip, discusses his journey towards creating sustainable, health-promoting living spaces with geodesic domes. He shares insights on how home design impacts our well-being, emphasizing the advantages of ceramic composites in construction. Bierschenk dives into the dome's energy efficiency—reducing heating costs by 70%—and its resilience against mold and pests. He also reflects on personal growth while gardening inside domes and envisions a future where these innovative homes transform housing standards.
Geodesic domes, with their unique architectural design, provide enhanced energy efficiency and maximize food production compared to traditional buildings.
The specially developed ceramic composite ensures geodesic domes are mold-resistant and resilient against natural disasters, promoting healthier living environments.
Affordability plays a significant role in the appeal of geodesic domes, potentially alleviating the housing crisis while supporting sustainable living practices.
Deep dives
Exploration of Geodesic Domes
The discussion highlights the innovative design of geodesic domes, which offer a superior structure for sustainable living compared to traditional rectangular buildings. These domes are not only aesthetically unique but also provide significant resilience against harsh environmental conditions, such as high winds and heavy snow loads. An emphasis is placed on the dome's ability to maximize energy efficiency and food production, particularly through its integration with greenhouse applications. This energy efficiency, alongside their innovative architectural design, positions geodesic domes as an exciting alternative for future living spaces.
The Role of Advanced Materials
A primary focus lies on the use of a specially developed ceramic composite that took over 12 years to create, which ensures durability and resilience against various natural disasters, including wildfires. This composite features a highly crystalline structure that minimizes porosity, making it mold-resistant and suitable for healthier living environments. The podcast elaborates on how this ceramic material not only provides structural strength but also offers thermal insulation properties that contribute to maintaining comfortable living spaces. Additionally, the innovative bonding technology employed in the construction enhances the longevity and sustainability of the housing solution.
Affordability and Sustainable Housing
Affordability emerges as a key selling point for geodesic domes, presenting a significant contrast to conventional construction costs that can be prohibitively high. The anticipated price for the geodesic domes is approximately $200 per square foot, with potential reductions to around $100 at scale, making it an accessible housing option. This affordability, paired with the eco-friendly construction materials and methods, underscores a significant step toward resolving the housing crisis while promoting sustainability. The podcast suggests that this approach holds promise not only for individual homes but also for community-wide implementations of these structures.
Health Benefits and EMF Shielding
The podcast explores the potential health benefits associated with living in geodesic domes, particularly in relation to mold toxicity and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The ceramic material's properties allow for reduced mold growth, addressing a significant concern in traditional housing where mold can be detrimental to health. Furthermore, there is a discussion around the materials' dielectric potential, which may provide some level of EMF shielding, although further research is needed to substantiate these claims. This focus on health is crucial as it aligns with a growing awareness of environmental factors impacting well-being.
Innovative Construction and Community Planning
The structure of the construction and planning process for geodesic domes is designed to be efficient, emphasizing speed and scalability. The manufacturing and installation process aims for rapid completion, potentially allowing for a fully outfitted home within several weeks of site preparation. This innovative approach not only diminishes the time spent on construction but also caters to a future where community living can be enhanced through connected dome structures. The dialogue suggests that as these homes become widespread, they represent a transformative shift towards collaborative, eco-conscious living spaces.
The environment that we live in has a huge impact on our health, both from a materials standpoint of what the home is made out of and even the shape of the structure itself. When I began studying nutrition over a decade ago I meditated quite a bit on the thought that we are always inside of boxes and maybe thats what keeps our ability to think critically constrained inside a metaphorical box.
I slept and meditated underneath pyramids for several years and more recently began growing plants and spending time inside a geodesic growing dome. I've noticed that plants grow effortlessly in there, abundant and massive, and my mind always feels more still when I'm gardening inside it.
A few years ago I came across Geoship, a startup company that uses a material that took 12 years to develop, a ceramic composite. There is no metal to corrode and no wood to rot or get eaten by bugs, so it is a structure that will last for hundreds of years. Having lived in cabins for the past 5 years, I can say that those structures are inferior and will eventually become obsolete.
Geoship domes are mold resistant, energy efficient (70% reduction in heating and cooling costs), have grounded floors, the walls release far infrared light, they can be built in a few weeks interior included, and best of all, they are affordable. Earlier this year I invested in this company to secure the first Geoship in Idaho that will go on top of my subterranean bunker. I am confident that this company will explode in popularity over the next few years.
