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Comment by rokhayakebe | Hacker News Reader

This type of habitat should also be implemented in developed countries.

It is. When Kate renovated my house in California she built a retaining wall out of it. That could be a good way for this technology to get a foot in the door in the US.

Another option that might work even better in the US is straw bale adobe:

http://www.buildingwithawareness.com/house1.html

I believe the reason Kate & Co. went with Eco-Domes for Darfur was that they couldn't count on finding anything there except dirt. But there is lots of straw in the US.

However, straw burns- and mildews, rather easily. I'm sure they have ways to minimize the negative consequences of this, but I think the dirt houses may be easier?

What do they use for roofing on the Eco-Domes?

Actually, straw bales burn very poorly. When locked away behind a layer of stucco, even more poorly.

Ditto for mildew.

The earthquake resistance, pest resistance, and insulating qualities of straw bale construction are mind-blowing.

Okay, I can agree with a tightly bailed bail of hay not burning (as long as it stays tight) but mildew? I've seen a lot of mildewed hay in my life. Living in a farming community, I know the importance of keeping your hay dry. Of course, I'm not totally familiar with the construction techniques- if you have any links you'd recommend, I'd be willing to read up on it.

I agree and am not joking when I say I bet there would be a huge interest in people building them all over the US for/by homeless people, people interested in trying something new, 20-somethings living with parents, etc. The better we get at building them, the better they become and the better we can help others build them.

What other groups can you add to this list, who would be interested in building one of these for themselves?

I doubt this would work out. Social pressure is too strong in the US, even for poor people. No one wants to live in what looks like a 3rd world mud hut.

I am sure the designer could make it look very appealing. Think about the Rocio Romero house or the Container house.

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