Earth Sheltered Design (2024)

FAQs

What is the earth sheltered design? ›

Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature.

Earth sheltered homes are built with soil or vegetation surrounding the walls or buried completely underground. Earth sheltered homes are ideal for homeowners who are looking for sustainable living quarters that withstand weather conditions better than typical homes.

The principal downsides to earth-sheltered houses are the initial cost of construction, which can be up to 20% more than a conventional house, and the increased level of care required to avoid moisture problems, both during construction and over the life of the house.

Earth Sheltered Homes are constructed in three basic methods or styles: the Berm, the Atrium, and the Elevational style.

Earth sheltered design can also offer other benefits, including reduced noise, lower impact on the landscape, and less vulnerability to high wind, hailstorms, and other extreme weather. This bermed house in California also shows elements of passive solar design.

An Earth Sheltered home keeps your family safe from hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.

Constructed of concrete and steel, Earth Sheltered homes will last well over 100 years, maybe a thousand! This means much less expense, fewer headaches, and more enjoyable weekends!

An earth-sheltered house is built below grade or completely underground. These homes are less susceptible to the impact of extreme outdoor air temperatures than a conventional house. Earth-sheltered houses also require less outside maintenance, and the earth surrounding the house provides soundproofing.

Final answer: Earth-sheltered homes help keep the countryside green by blending into the landscape, using natural insulation, reducing the carbon footprint, supporting biodiversity, and using locally sourced materials.

Using stilts or other innovative, nonintrusive foundation construction techniques is just one example of how you can build a home into a mountain while maintaining the integrity of the natural surroundings.

Can you build a home underground? ›

These homes are built by excavating the ground, into which posts are driven. Shoring boards are then fixed between the posts and the earth, and polyethylene plastic sheets (for waterproofing) placed behind the shoring.

Earthbag homes will last more than 100 years, provided they are protected from rain and water. Waterproofing the walls with plasters like stucco is essential for prolonging the lifespan of an earthbag home.

FAQs about the cheapest type of house to build

On a per-square-foot basis, pole barn houses and barndominiums are the most affordable at around $50 to $160 per square foot. Other inexpensive home types include modular homes, tiny homes, shipping container homes, and standard one-story ranch homes.

Earth sheltering is a more extreme version of earth berming, where the north side (and perhaps the east and west sides) of the house is buried more extensively, often right up to the roof.

An earth shelter, also called an earth house, earth bermed house, or underground house, is a structure (usually a house) with earth (soil) against the walls, on the roof, or that is entirely buried underground. An earth sheltered house in Switzerland (Peter Vetsch)

Earth homes: Earth-sheltered homes are partially or fully covered with earth. They use the natural insulating properties of the soil to maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling. They can be built in various styles, including bermed, in-hill, and fully underground designs.