If your ever traveling across the country side you may have the occasion to see a home built into the side of a mountain or someone parked on top of their house, it may seem odd at first but the truth is these underground homes are among the most energy efficient dwellings in the world.

There are many common misconceptions about Earth Sheltered or Underground homes. One misconception being that the homes are dark and claustrophobic. The truth is that a properly built home will have an open ended face which would have southern exposure. A dome style would have reflective light walls which disperse natural lighting to every part of the home. They often include skylights which magnify the the internal light and is referred to as co-linear. Another misconception is that interior air quality is poor due to the lack of ventilation. The implementation of Air exchange systems will demystify this myth and in fact the air quality is usually significantly better than that of a conventional building. Many people also believe that an underground home is cold. If you’ve ever lived in a home with a basement, then you would know that it stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The earth acts as an insulator and maintains a mean temperature of 55 degrees year round. This is a geothermal property that saves thousands of dollars as well as preserving an abundance of fossil fuels. In addition to these advantages, earth sheltered homes can be built into the side of a mountain or other landscapes that would otherwise be unusable therefor preserving valuable farm land. Other advantages include:

• Incredible structural integrity making them safe from hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, fire, earth quakes and other natural disasters

• Preserving land (you can park on the roof)

• A significant reduction in utilities and energy costs

• Energy Tax savings and tax incentives

• Insect invasion is a non issue due to impenetrable shell

• Thieves and vandals will be less likely to target these homes because of the single open wall

• pipes will not freeze

• Exterior maintenance is almost nonexistent

The disadvantages are few. These homes are nontraditional and must be planned with extreme caution. A leak due to improper waterproofing can be a costly fix. Removing tens of tons of earth from the roof can add up to thousands. Another disadvantage may be resale value. Due to the unconventional style, buyer might tend to shy away. finally, until these homes become a little more mainstream, the initial construction costs are slightly higher than that of a conventional style home. That being said, the long term energy savings and tax incentives far outweigh that initial expense. With the implementation of Wind and Solar Power Generators and the incorporation of geothermal energy, it is probable that the owners of underground homes will live ‘Off The Grid’ never having to pay a utility bill again. These are green homes and are a true representative of sustainability. Energy for the Future and Global Warming: Geothermal Energy: Easyread Large Edition

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What are “Earth Homes?” Earth homes are houses that are basically constructed from the earth. Some earth homes are built from adobe, mud, straw or even underground as an earth-sheltered home. Environmentally friendly, earth homes are easy to warm and cool and extremely energy efficient.

Adobe Earth homes are houses constructed from bricks comprised of tightly compacted earth, clay and straw. Adobe earth homes can be naturally waterproofed by using fermented cactus juice!

Earth sheltered earth homes are houses the are constructed underground – or at least mostly beneath the ground surface. Surrounding soil is a superp and nautral insulation which makes these homes cheap to heat and cool. Usually installed in a well-drained hillside, earth sheltered homes have a skylight window that can fill the home with natural sunlight. Although costs may run a bit higher than conventional home construction, earth sheltered homes are a good, long-term investment as lowered maintenance and energy savings make up the difference.

Straw Bale earth homes are making a comeback as well. Straw bale earth homes are obviously constructed of straw and grass, are energy efficient, and can cut material building costs by as much as fifty percent.

Earth homes, such as Cob Houses are built from clay-type lumps of soil, sand and straw. Similar to the adobe homes, except cob earth homes do not use bricks or blocks. Cob homes have walls that are sculpted into smooth forms. Again, very energy efficient, cob homes are well-suited for the very cold climates and deserts.

Rammed earth homes may have over 18-inch, thick walls that are made from a comcination of dirt, sand, cement and water. Energy conservative, rammed earth homes have the appearance of bungalow-style charm and help keep the house warm in winter and cool in the summer. Additionally, rammed earth homes may last hundreds of years.

Why build an earth home? Earth homes conserve energy, and in most cases are easier to maintain and can endure for years to come. An excellent site to visit on earth homes: www.hobbithomes.ca This particular site even has a recipe for building your own “cob” earth home, as well as other projects.

As we embark on a strange, new age and global warming continuously on the rise, doesn’t it make sense to construct your new custom home as an earth home?

©2004 – All Rights Reserved Environmentally-Friendly Earth Homes C. Bailey-Lloyd / Lady Camelot

About the Author: C. Bailey-Lloyd/LadyCamelot is the Public Relations Director & Writer for Holistic Junction — Your source of information for Holistic Practitioners; Naturopathic Schools, Massage Therapy Schools, and Reflexology Schools; Alternative Healthcare; Insightful Literature and so much more!

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