In Northern Nevada, where temperatures generally exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during summer and dip below zero in winter, the well-insulated BioHome challenges these apathetic extremes in hitting 78 degrees and 48 degrees respectively. Edward B. Dilley Sr., the founder and project leader, employed various eco-friendly measures and 20 years of R&D to make the Project Bio/HOME (The Earth Base Station) a breathing reality. The project has swelled up to be a cluster of six biodomes of 24 ft. diameter each.
A galvanized steel frame containing a layer of polyurethane with an insulating value of R-90, and John Martinson’s transparent, solar-powered Water Bubble Windows serve dual purposes: stimulates plant growth and keeps the heat out of the dwelling. Most of the electricity, consumed for carrying out the mundane tasks, comes from low-cost hybrid solar electric systems that include 480-watt solar panels, two 2500-watt inverters and much more. There are the solar Airwell distillers for purification of water. Just to ensure that water is sensibly used for cleaning purposes, solar toilets are there that use no plumbing or water. The Bio/HOME’s green room recycles most of the trash it produces.
