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PROVIDENCE, Cache County — A Providence family has finished building the county's first dome home that they say is not only unique looking but more energy efficient than regular homes.
Dave South lived in a domed home in Idaho as a child and says it's been the family business since he was 8 years old, the Herald Journal reported.
South had been living in a regular house for about a decade with his family before he decided to make the change.
An inflated device gives the dome its shape.
"From the outside it looks like we have three different domes, but it's really just one dome inflated at different heights," South explained. "The design is based around just one structure."
The roof retains heat.
South says the design defends against natural disasters such as earthquakes.
"The insulation protects the dome and retains energy longer," South said. "It's like a flywheel for energy, and it takes a long time for that energy to change. Most non-dome homes don't perform like they should, and they let a lot of that heat out, but if you touch the walls, you can still feel the warmth."
Texas-based Monolithic Domes is behind the roof structure. A company official said these types of homes can be found in much of the country, particularly in areas prone to natural disasters.
Lifestyle Homes contracted out the rest of the work.
"I wouldn't have imagined living in a home like this before I met Dave," Jennifer South explained. "I was new to the dome business, but now I know exactly why it's so exciting. I missed living in a home like this."
Dave South said the design and energy-efficient elements of the home made financing and construction a challenge, but the price is comparable to a designer home with a regular roof.
The project took about three years.
