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Efficient Earth-Sheltered Homes. If you are looking for a home with energy-efficient features that will provide a comfortable, tranquil, weather-resistant dwelling, an earth-sheltered house could be right for you. There are two basic types of earth-sheltered house designs—underground and bermed.
- What Is An Earth-Sheltered Home?
- Important Concepts Involved in Earth-Sheltered Home Construction
- Benefits of An Earth-Sheltered Home
- Design Challenges of An Earth-Sheltered Home
- Inspirational Pictures
- Earth Sheltered Home Plans and Design Notes
- Reference Books on About Earth Sheltered Homes
An earth-sheltered home is one that uses a large quantity of earth (dirt, soil, subsoil, etc.) as a protective barrier on a good portion of the exterior of the house. The exact portion varies greatly from one design to another as you will see shortly. However, in every case, many tons of earth will be piled around and/or on the home. Some of these ...
There are a few considerations and concepts when it comes to constructing an earth-sheltered home. Let us look at some of them
Building Material is Dirt Cheap
The main material used in the construction of these homes is obviously earth of some sort. Usually, this dirt is taken from the house site directly or from somewhere else on the same property on which the house is being constructed. This means that the cost of this material is only the price of renting a backhoe or other dirt-moving machine – unless you are very handy with a shovel, in which case it is free!
More Consistent Interior Temperatures
The biggest benefit of earth-sheltered homes is that they remain at a much more consistent interior temperature. This has huge implications as to the energy required to heat and cool your house. A house that naturally stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter will require far less fuel to heat and cool than a standard house.
Blends into the Landscape
Many conventional homes stand out like a sore thumb, and not a pretty sore thumb. These homes are also bland in the sense that the exact same home can be plopped down pretty much anywhere in the world without thought to the surrounding landscape. However, these earth-sheltered homes meld with the earth itself – oftentimes disappearing from view completely from several different vantage points. This makes for a home that nestles into its place as the landscape hugs the house, becoming almost o...
Admittance of Light
All earth-sheltered homes are going to have to overcome the problem of getting enough light into the house. Many of these homes naturally only admit light from one cardinal direction (generally south). This makes any rooms that are not directly on the southern wall dark, and even the rooms on the south side will have strong and harsh shadows as everything is lit from only a single direction. To remedy this, you will need to either use skylights or cut through the berm on the other sides of th...
Weight of Earth
Dirt is heavy. Wet sand and clay can be upwards of 110 pounds per cubic foot. That is both a boon and a difficulty that needs to be overcome. Structures that are completely buried in it will need some strong structural support. Many underground homes will have a poured concrete roof that is then waterproofed and covered in a thick layer of earth. While a wooden framed roof of adequate size can support a lighter living roof, only concrete will be strong enough to support a thick layer of earth...
Moisture Issues
In some ways, these houses resemble the average basement or cave, neither of which is known for being dry. And unless you are in a very arid region, like the American southwest, a buried or partially-buried house is going to have moisture issues that need to be dealt with in the planning stages. The building needs to be completely wrapped in a correctly placed waterproof membrane. This is especially true for the roof. There are many different choices for a waterproof membrane from bitumen, to...
So now that we have gone through the technical details of building an earth-sheltered home, let’s look at some examples of these homes that people have built around the world. No two are alike, as you will quickly see.
Plans for sale for earth-sheltered living roof homes, earth-bermed homes, and an earthship planat Dream Green Homes.A bermed earth-sheltered house can be the ideal choice if you’re seeking a home with energy-saving features that will offer a cosy, serene, weather-resistant residence. Earth-sheltered homes, especially subterranean homes, are increasingly a viable passive design option.
- # Earth-Bermed House in Hudson Valley, New York. Architect: Allan Shope. Completed in 2011, this earth bermed house was built by architect Allan Shope as his own residence.
- # Earth Sheltered House in Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Architect: Gluck+ This 2,850-square-foot house in the Rocky Mountains was designed by Gluck+ in 2004.
- # NCAVED House in Serifos Island, Greece. Architect: MOLD Architects. Completed in 2020, this one-of-a-kind house is located on a small secluded rocky cove on Serifos Island, Greece.
- # The Horizon House in San Bernardino, Paraguay. Architect: Bauen. This 345-square-meter house was completed by the architecture firm Bauen in 2019. It is partially buried under the ground to match the downhill topography of the site.
Sep 14, 2011 · Although they are fairly rare, earth-sheltered homes, or earth homes, are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Read on about some of these home's debunked myths, advantages, and disadvantages before you purchase or build your own.
Aug 27, 2024 · Bermed homes provide excellent insulation and can be built using more conventional construction techniques, making them a practical choice for those looking to incorporate earth-sheltering. Underground or Fully Earth-Sheltered Homes.
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Jul 12, 2017 · The second type of earth sheltered home is known as an earth bermed home. These homes can range in design from a Tolkien-style Hobbit Home with a grass or garden roof, to a typical stick-built home tucked into a hillside. Dennie, and many other earth-sheltered home experts, favor the earth bermed home for a variety of reasons including ...
