An example of an underground home
Have you heard about underground homes? We’re not talking Hobbits or Gnomes here. Frankly, I was surprised to see that there is an entire website exclusively devoted to underground homes. There are also dedicated guidebooks. On further investigation, I realized that these just may be the eco-friendly houses of the future. Why don’t you make like a mole and follow me, as we dig a little deeper to learn more.
Underground homes (aka earth sheltered homes) are pretty much what they sound like. They are either built into a hillside, or constructed near a hill and then covered with earth on the sides and over the top. The primary idea is energy efficiency. The natural insulation of the earth helps reduce cooling costs in summer and heating costs during the winter, between 60-85%!
Sound anti-social to you? Not necessarily. In many ways its just like a regular house – not a new-fangled bomb shelter, with tunnels weaving deep into the earth. However, living in an underground home can provide protection from natural disasters such as tornadoes and fire. Some people feel safer too, sheltered from potential theft or vandalism.
Another view of an underground home
What is so green about underground homes? For starters, they are constructed of concrete instead of wood. The significantly reduced heating and cooling costs make them extremely energy efficient, too. But perhaps you don’t fancy the idea of living in a cellar. Your experience should be nothing of the sort with an underground home. With south facing windows, an abundance of natural light will be available. In addition, sky lights and solar tubes may be installed. Insulation prevents water intrusion and dampness too. You may even forget that you are living in a subsurface home.
Can you imagine never having to paint the exterior of your home or re-roof it? Forget cleaning out the gutters each fall, too. My husband is starting to think this option is for us! Little does he know he may have to “mow” the house instead….
What do you think about underground homes? A great idea, or a little too extreme for your taste?
February 8th, 2009 at 11:20 am
This is probably a little too extreme for most of us, but I think it’s a great idea. While the hot topic has been, renewable energy for quite some time, I’m glad to see that energy conservation is being maximized as well. When we don’t use as much, we don’t need to produce as much.
Now if we could just figure out how to harness the power of grass energy and eliminate that pesky mowing!
February 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
No one single factor affects our economy more than the cost of fuel.This past year the high cost of fuel did serious damage to our economy and society.The trickle down effects are far reaching from higher production and shipping costs to higher energy bills.After a brief reprieve at the pump gas is heading back up as OPEC continues to cut production.We need to invest in America becoming energy independent .Create cheap clean energy,BADLY needed new green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign fuel. Most families went broke at the pump alone this past year. Added to the burden were the skyrocketing cost of groceries and other consumer goods .Consumers cut back because they had less to spend. Sadly that was a real economical catch-22 resulting in even more layoffs. I just read a profound book by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. We have so much available to us, wind, solar, biofuels, hybrid technologies. We need to invest in America. It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to charge and drive an electric car at the current average electric rates. The electricity to charge the car could come from solar or wind generated electricity. If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV’s instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. What powerful resources we have largely ignored. OPEC will continue to cut production until they reach their desired 70-100. per barrel again. We are at their mercy. WE need to get on with getting ourselves out from under this heavy burden to our society.
http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
February 13th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Here’s a page of questions and answers about building underground:
http://www.greenhomebuilding.c.....er/how.htm
It’s from my husband’s sprawling website on all aspects of natural building. Use the search box there and the word underground to find lots more.
We have some land in New Mexico that we have long thought we might build an underground house on… great for steady temperatures in a place with plenty of fluctuations.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Wonderful! Thank you so much, Zana!
Stephanie