Maintaining a comfortable environment in your geodesic dome becomes a top priority as temperatures climb. At Phoenix Domes, we're dedicated to helping you enjoy your unique living space year-round. Let's explore effective strategies to keep your dome cool and dry when the heat is on.
Understanding Your Dome's Climate Challenges
Geodesic domes are known for their energy efficiency, but their expansive windows and distinctive shape can lead to heat accumulation in summer. While this design excels at retaining warmth in winter, it requires thoughtful adaptation for the hotter months.
In some climates, summer brings humidity—that lovely sticky feeling that never leaves and creates a mop of hair on your head!
Addressing these climate challenges is essential for your comfort and preserving the integrity of your dome structure. Effective climate control ensures a pleasant living environment while safeguarding your investment for years.
Dome Climate Control
Solar fans are an innovative, eco-friendly solution that addresses multiple climate control needs:
- Heat Removal: These fans efficiently expel hot air that tends to rise and collect at the top of your dome, significantly cooling the interior.
- Moisture Management: Solar fans help reduce condensation by promoting air circulation, keeping your dome dry and comfortable.
- Energy Efficiency: Powered by the sun, these fans operate at no additional energy cost, aligning perfectly with the sustainable ethos of dome living.
- Versatility: Effective in both summer and winter, solar fans ensure year-round comfort.
Implementing solar fans in your dome or zome can dramatically improve the living experience for you, your family, and your guests. However, additional cooling will be required if the sun is baking right onto your skylight and panorama window.
Additional Cooling and Moisture Control Strategies
- Triangle Windows: These are crucial for natural air circulation. When opened strategically, they create a convection current, allowing hot air to escape while drawing in cooler air from below. 2 opening Triangle Glass Windows are included in each Deluxe Glamping Package - 3 for domes 30’ and up.
- Screened Doors: Incorporating these enhances cross-ventilation, promoting consistent airflow and significantly reducing indoor temperatures. You can purchase screen doors or a magnetic screen curtain online or at a local building supply to install in your regular door opening.
- Zip-open panorama window: Included in our Deluxe Glamping package, the zip-opening Panorama window can be rolled up partially or fully, to create lots of airflow instead of collecting the heat!
- Interior skylight cover: An additional pentagon oxford liner piece is included with each liner kit so you can cover the skylight in the hotter months to avoid letting in the heat.
- Shade Sails and Canopies: External shading reduces heat gain, making the job of solar fans easier. Install a shade sail above your panorama window to keep the sun off while still enjoying the view with our Shade Sail Attachment tabs - this can be removed in the cooler months to let in the warmth of the sun when desired. Shade sails are commonly and inexpensively available to order online. This is one of the most effective ways to keep your dome cool in the summer!
- Use of Curtains and Blinds: Our heavy curtains help shade the inside of the dome and keep the sun from heating up the floor. Keep these closed during peak heat hours to block sunlight and minimize heat gain effectively. This simple strategy significantly reduces the burden on your cooling systems, enhancing overall energy efficiency.
- Low-E glass upgrade: our double pane, Low-E solar glass with a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of 0.3 is effective at blocking 70% of the heat of the sun while providing a gorgeous, clear view. You can upgrade your existing dome, or order it as a Hybrid PVC/Glass kit from the get go.
Every dome is unique, and your needs may vary based on climate, usage, and personal preferences. We encourage you to experiment with these solutions to find the perfect balance for your dome environment.
For more detailed information on implementing solar fans and other climate control strategies, visit our Dome Academy on the website. We're here to help if you have any questions!
Stay cool, and remember - there's no place like dome!
