Long before green building practices became popular, Jim Schwartz built an energy-efficient geodesic home on a lakeside lot in Mendota Heights.
"I liked the look of the dome home, and the energy-savings was a plus," said Schwartz of the sphere-shaped wood structure he had constructed in 1984 and has been living in ever since.
A geodesic home has less surface area exposed to outdoor temperatures and thicker insulation than a traditional home. The result is lower heating and cooling costs. He also installed a solar panel system on the garage roof that helps heat the home's water and forced air from the furnace.
Schwartz even found a "green" location for his dome home -- on a small lake that bans motorized boating. "It's a perfect canoeing and kayaking lake," he said.
Other features:
• The dome home's 2,904 square feet include two bedrooms on the main level and two bedrooms on a walk-out lower level. There are also two bathrooms.
• A large loft that can be used as an office or exercise room overlooks the living room and kitchen area.
• Rustic tongue-and-groove cedar interior.
