An airlock entryway (vestibule) has two airtight doors that reduce the amount of air infiltration and heat loss when the exterior door is opened. They create a buffer area to block the wind and improve energy efficiency. Double door airlock entries are common features in energy-efficient homes in cold climates, but they also reduce air conditioning costs in hot climates. The airlock entryway shown above includes two insulated doors, coat closet, washer and dryer with shelves, window for daylighting, and a bench for changing shoes. The Popular Science article linked below shows four ways to build airlock entries.
Native Spirit house plan
Popular Science: Four Ways to an Add-on Air-lock Entry
I live in a 4 season climate with cold winters. A house with only one door and no vestibule or at least something similar seems weird to me.
Even if extreme weather is not an issue, you need some sort of space between front door and the first room of the house, as in a foyer; otherwise, there is a sense of suddenly barging in to the living space. You need a few feet to accustom yourself to the change from outdoors to indoors, especially where visitors are concerned. I know I’m not expressing myself well but maybe you get the idea. Still, a vestibule is best for that purpose.
Are Supply Fans used to pressurize the air lock space to keep foreign air out?
I have never heard of this being done. Just having the two doors is generally sufficient.
How much would it cost to install an airlock in a home?
It all depends on the size, materials, etc. You have to make a spreadsheet with all the costs.
Lets say that my airlock is 4 meters long, 1.3 meters wide and 2.4 meters high (because that is what the house plan says). It has 300mm thick straw bale walls as insulation. What do you think would be the approximate cost of this?
Costs of materials and labor vary from region to region, as do building codes and climate factors. You may need a different foundation than someone 500 miles south. You have to research everything and make a spreadsheet as explained in this article on our FAQ page:
https://naturalbuildingblog.siterubix.com/how-much-will-my-house-cost/
Thanks Owen. I’ll take a look.
AIRLOCKS , ESPECIALLY ON OLD HOUSES , ARE VERY WEIRD AND OLD FASHIONED .
IN MODERN TIMES , WHERE ENERGY IS NOT SCARCE… [edited].
This sounds like a troll message. You’ve got to be kidding “In modern times where energy is not scarce.” I guess you’re fie with all the oil wars, fracking pollution, Gulf spill, etc.?
Airlocks are not primitive. Like many natural building concepts, they’re based on hundreds or thousands of years of use.
In modern spaceships, where oxygen is not scarce, we only need the primitive single-door solutions /s
It feels like home when talking about “vestibule” and “Jordkjeller”. Well swedish norwegian Danish its all the same…. (almost)
My grandmother had almost this. In the winter she had double doors. One opening inwards and one outwards mounted with some air in between. And in the summer she just hooked off the winter door. And no slowpoking and running too much in and out there.
Very cool. How hard would this be to incorporate with your Enviro Dome?
It would be pretty easy to add an airlock entry to the Enviro Dome. The main difference is everything is curved, so it’s a bit more work. The key step would be embedding anchors/blocking between courses of earthbags in the right locations as you build. The roof would attach to the anchors/blocking. Use the same method to build a larger structure such as an attached greenhouse. Read the Popular Mechanics article for more details. It’s mostly general carpentry. You could use a combination of partial earthbag and wood walls if you want more sunlight. Adjust the roof overhang to your climate.