Optimal Green: Modern Earth Sheltering
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 10.10.06
Earth sheltering is an effective way to regulate temperature in a home. It works well in almost any climate. Just below the frost line, the earth stays a fairly constant temperature: 50 degrees F, plus or minus a few degrees, depending on where you live. The surrounding soil provides natural insulation, making these houses inexpensive to heat and cool. The best location for an earth sheltered house is on a well-drained hillside. Windows facing the south or an overhead skylight will fill the interior with sunshine.
In the winter, earth-sheltered homes require very little additional heat to warm them. In the summer, the interior stays cool — while it may be 100F outside, the house will stay at comfortable 70F, thanks to it’s earthen wrap.
There is also an additional advantage: earth shelters absorb rain water. This means less water runs off the building, and get all the benefits of having plants grow in this micro-habitat: e.g. temperature and humidity regulation.
If it’s just the walls that are sheltered with earth, it’s called “earth berming”. When the roof is covered, it's called or a "green roof" or a "living roof". When the entire house is covered, it's an "underground home".
See also: Alex Michaelis' Underground Green House
For more details, see these books: Earth-Sheltered Houses or Green Roofs.
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Where is the pictured house?
It's in the UK. Here are some photo of it's construction:
http://www.polarwall.co.uk/Gallery%20P91.html
Live like a modernist hobbit? I have to admit the most beautiful underground dwelling that I've ever seen is a fictional one: the Baggins house in the Lord of the Rings films.
I think the featured house is beautiful, but- based on the photos- it looks like a lot of it is still above ground. Maybe the photos don't do it justice.
Although, I do think that digging down to expand your house seems more green than taking up more surface space.
Can anyone piece out the price difference between adding a utility room/ office/ small garage & shed to the side of your house vs. expanding your basement to do the same? My guess is that digging would cost more up front, but then save money in the long haul. I certainly could be very wrong.
regards-
Armand
To me one part of sustainability is everyone. Can everyone in the world really do this?
Still it looks cool.
Yes, sustainability does mean everyone. However, 'everyone' doesn't necessarily mean a homogenized approach that is the same for all people. There are cultural, regional differences. Also, urban and rural ... and even, city core and suburban.
One thing we all have around planet Earth, is, well, earth. The most abundant building material. So, that alone makes it for everyone. And that makes it a key to sustainability.
Or, so I believe.
*Contact me if you wish.
Digging depends on the soil and the drainage. As the article says, "The best location for an earth sheltered house is on a well-drained hillside." If you don't have that, you'll need some way of dealing with the water, both keeping it out of the space and getting rid of it so hydrostatic pressure doesn't cause it to weep through or bow the walls or the like. So digging may be the inexpensive part -- dealing with water is what may cost you more up front.
Very Cool- I have always liked the idea. But to respond to Shadow, I like sustainable ideas to include everyone, but I think local solutions will eventually win out over global solutions. A great design competition would be to present 6 climates, and design an earth sheltering habitat that works best for that climate.
When I was in spain I saw some house that were carved into the side of mountains and in parts of australia people live underground to keep cool.
Armand, Beru and Owen Lars' house > Bag End. Ooh, I think I just came off looking a bit geeky then.
While including everyone in sustainability is the goal, the best way to achieve that goal is diversity! Working with your local ecosystem is far more sustainable than trying to force any one technique on all the different kinds of ecosystems.
So, you can build an earth sheltered home if you live in an area with soil or sand that is easily moved, and you choose some other shelter design if you don't. Which is why Bag End is a lush underground home, while they have sandy labyrinthian caves with underground patios on Tatooine, and elaborate treehouses with catwalks on Endor...
The second photo (Earth bermed apartment building) is brilliant. Is this kind of thing possible to do to an existing 1.5 storey house in Toronto? I would LOVE any information.
I have been doing some research on the underground dwelling in Australia, and now here. I have some land in the very hot, and very dry, west part of Texas. I was wondering if an underground home (as in Australia) or one dug into the side of a cliff (or large hill) would have any great economic benefits. Any thoughts, suggestions, information, or ideas, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the nice site.
Jim