Earth Shelter
 Underground housing (also known as "earth-sheltered")
housing came to public attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Instead of
marring a grassy knoll or field with the construction of a conventional house,
design and build a home in complete accord with nature - one that's underground.
Whether you choose to create an "earth-sheltered" house that blends into the
world around it or one that is truly "underground," these homes can offer low
cost, comfort and energy efficiency. There are two different approaches to earth-sheltered housing: the bermed
house and the chambered (or truly underground) house. The bermed house involves
building the structure at or close to original grade and "berming" (mounding
earth against) the side walls. Very often, an earth roof is chosen to complete
the harmony of the building. In the chambered house, the entire structure is
below original grade. Many different techniques have evolved over the past 35 years which make underground houses as light and bright and airy as those homes built above ground. Underground designers seem to go out of their way in this respect, aware not only of the code-enforcement officer's strict adherence to building regulations, but also of the common citizen's belief that underground housing equals dark, damp, dingy basements. Mike Oehler, author of The $50 and Up Underground House Book, says, "An underground house has no more in common with a basement than a penthouse apartment has in common with a hot, dark, dusty attic." Rob Roy's new book, Earth-Sheltered Houses: How to Build an Affordable Underground Home (New Society Publishers), is now available, including a section on the light-weight living roof. See also, Stoneview: How to Build an Eco-Friendly Little Guesthouse (New Society, 2007) See Books & Videos |