Homeowners living in dome-shaped houses say they protect against natural disasters and save them money on bills

• Dome homes are built to withstand extreme weather — ideal for areas prone to natural disasters.
• Dome homeowners said the structures' energy efficiency saves them money on energy bills.
• Domes also often cost about the same as a traditional home and offer a unique living space.

When Pamela Voss and her husband were looking for a serene, secluded home in eastern Texas, they were amazed to stumble upon a unique dwelling in their area: a geodesic dome home.

"I'd never really considered a dome home, but when we looked at the house, I said: 'This is so cool — wow, what I can do with this house,'" Voss told Insider.

"It's like living in a planetarium," she added.

But dome-shaped homes are more than just unique places to live. The structures are also weather-resistant, and known to withstand extreme winds and rain. The unique structure could also save homeowners money in the long run.

Dome homes can protect homeowners from extreme weather, which is on the rise due to the climate crisis

Mike South, president of the Texas-based Monolithic Dome company, said roughly half his customers wanted a dome home because of climate and weather concerns.

"We actually had a father and son come to us — the son built a dome home and the dad made fun of him the whole time," South said. "Then, a tornado came through and fell on the Dad's house, cutting it in half. The son's dome also had a tree fall on it, but it was fine."

"So not long after, I was building the Dad a dome, too."

Extreme weather events displaced nearly 3.4 million US adults in 2022, the Census Bureau found. And the number of displacements due to weather each year has steadily risen in recent years, an expert told CBS News.

"We live in Texas, and dome homes can withstand tornadoes very well," Voss said. "They're super safe."

Texas is particularly prone to tornadoes — the state saw 142 tornadoes in 2022 and has seen 32 so far in 2023. Extreme weather events in the state caused over $1.4 billion in property damage in 2022, according to the National Weather Service.

Bryan Bremner, who has lived in a Washington state dome home since 2003, said his dome could likely withstand a hurricane or tornado.

Other dome homes have features like solar power panels and backup generators that make them ideal for withstanding extreme weather events, The New York Times has reported.

Homeowners can choose between geodesic and monolithic dome homes, which come with different bonuses

There are two types of dome homes that are sweeping the market: geodesic domes, like Voss' home, and monolithic domes, like Bremner's.

Geodesic homes are constructed of smaller triangular components that provide structural rigidity. Monolithic domes are made of a single continuous piece of material, such as reinforced concrete, in Bremner's case.

South said one bonus of monolithic domes is that the construction yields less waste than geodesic domes since it's one continuous piece of material.

Bremner also said monolithic dome homes can be more leak-proof than geodesic domes since no individual components can come apart.

Ultimately though, the homeowners agreed that dome homes in general are exceptionally resilient.

"Dome homes will last forever," Voss said.

Dome homes cost roughly the same as their traditional counterparts — and could save homeowners money in the long run

A typical dome home in a rural area can cost between $350,000 and $450,000, an expert told The New York Times. In comparison, a typical American home in May cost an average of $350,000, according to Zillow data.

Voss said they bought their 4,000-square-foot dome home in 2021 for just under $500,000.

"They really hold their value," Voss said.

Sometimes, monolithic domes can cost 15-20% more than the average home, South said.

But there are ways to mitigate that extra expense. Bremner said he bought his dome home for about $150,000 in 2001, saving money by installing his own wiring and renovating the home himself.

Dome homes are also energy efficient, Voss and South agreed, saving homeowners money on heating and cooling.

Compared to her previous traditional homes, Voss noted her air conditioning and heating bills have gone down by 30% — and that the home only needs one AC unit, while a traditional home of the same size would likely need two.

One challenge that is pervasive across the dome-home industry is securing a loan, given the unique aspects of the buildings. Voss recalled visiting several large banks and being denied each time. She said it took her and her husband several weeks to get a loan from a small private lender.

But South said future homeowners may find better luck as dome homes become more popular.

"They're starting to become more mainstream," he said.