Miscellaneous Questions about Earthshelted Buildings

Q: If someone actually built into a mountain, would it stay cool in the summer or not? Even if it would, it seems like it would be very difficult to warm in the winter.

A: (Kelly) It works both ways, cooling and warming, because when you go underground there is a stable constant temperature that reflects the average of above ground temperatures annually. So in the summer, this tends to help keep it cooler inside, and in the winter it helps buffer the colder times.  Good passive solar design in this situation can provide comfortable quarters without the need for much other inputs.

Q: I have always enjoyed tropical settings. My dream is to own or have constructed a palace like home with open courtyards and architecture that seems to let nature become part of my home. My dream is to have a home built out of a small mountain with a connecting waterfront/waterfall or body of ocean. Your website didnt have information about architecture involving the use of mountains. Can you give me your brief recommendations, also what area in which my request would most likely be fessible ex: south america, madagascar, or any other tropical country.

A (Kelly): I have always been fascinated by the possibility of digging into mountains for habitation; there have been many societies that have done this traditionally. Here is a excerpt from an article I once wrote about the Ancestral Puebloan culture in the Southwestern U.S.:

There is a lot of speculation about why they decided to start building communities within the cliff faces. Some think it was for defensive purposes, although there is little evidence of violence to support this. My sense is that they moved to the cliffs for comfort. Some enterprising individual or family probably tried building a stone house on one of the many cliff ledges that faces south and soon realized that there were many advantages, which were pointed out to the others. Sealing off a cave or cliff alcove with rock walls effectively makes the room a part of the cliff itself. It’s like digging into the ground to take advantage of the cool in the summer and the warmth in the winter, but under the rock ledge they were also protected from the rain and snow and had much more thermal mass to buffer temperature extremes. Facing south, or southwest, as many of the cliff dwellings do, would allow the sun to enter the openings into the interior and also warm the stones, which would give off heat at night. During the summer, when the sun is high in the sky, much less sun would reach the buildings and they would remain cooler.

I got an indication of how well solid rock can modulate temperatures at another stop. On the outskirts of Moab, Utah is a 5,000 square foot dwelling blasted out of solid monolithic rock, called Hole-in-the-Rock. It is open for tours, so I checked it out and was informed that the temperature stays about 65 degrees F. all year round. Moab is at about 4,000 feet elevation, so it is a warmer climate than Mesa Verde, but even so the cliff dwellings must have been fairly comfortable most of the time.

There are many tropical locations that might be suitable, around the world.

Q: Hello, My wife, Rose, and I are planning to build a two-story house in a year-round tropical (hot-humid) climate near the ocean--Atlantic side of Costa Rica. What materials would you suggest? We are considering concrete and stucco. Where is a good place to get advice about what to do, or more importantly what not to do?

A: (Kelly) If I were to build in a hot-humid climate, I would seriously consider digging into the ground, where the temperature would be much cooler and more stable. A completely earth-sheltered home can be light and airy, if well-designed. Most underground building does use cement, but this is not the only way. A more ecological approach can utilize earthbags, filled with the local soil, sealed from moisture from the earth with plastic, and plastered on the inside for a pleasing wall surface. This approach could also be quite inexpensive.

Q: Thank you for the information. I may have given you the wrong information about "hot humid". It is always humid but the temperature year round is moderate, i.e., mid-day temperatures around 85 degrees and the night-time temperatures are in the high 60th. Sleeping is always comfortable with just a fan. Also since we are on beachfront we wish to build up, not down. Again, I would
appreciate any advise.

A: (Kelly) The most common strategy in such climates is to make the structure as "airy" as possible, so that the evening breezes can cool things down. The trouble with using dense, thermal mass materials, like concrete, is that they tend to stay warm once they become warm, so a house made of concrete may stay uncomfortably hot most of the time. I might investigate building with indigenous materials, such as bamboo, that doesn't tend to hold the heat.

Q: I would like a list of contractors that specialize in underground home construction if at all possible. I have been having a hard time locating contractors that specialize in that type of constuction. Any help that you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

A: (John MacMillian)I don't have a list of contractors that specialize in earth sheltered homes. For the most part, if you give them a complete design, any large, licensed, insured and bonded contractor should be able to build the home.

Q: I read, and if I got it right, that you recommend earth sheltering by digging underground in humid climate to deal with hot summer. I am sure what you are saying is right but I need to understand how it works. I thought it is the natural ventilation which is the most important for this climate and it could be difficult to achieve underground. please comment.

A: (Kelly) My comments are strickly theoretical, since I have not lived in a hot, humid climate nor experimented with my ideas in this area. I know that the vernacular way of dealing with these conditions is simply to provide plenty of natural ventilation, and this makes sense, as long as you are building above ground, since it is the only way to cool things down without air conditioning. I think that if the early inhabitants of a region had experimented with digging into the ground (in places where a high water table would not be a problem, or by berming up around the house), then they would have realized the advantages of doing this to help keep things cooler. The fact that a structure is mostly underground does not necessarily inhibit the use of natural ventilation; air vents can be arranged through windows and/or other vent pipes to provide as much air exchange as one wants. So, if you want to vent the cooler night air through a house, this is certainly possible. Dealing with the humidity would be pretty much the same in either case, without resorting to a de-humidifier.

Q: I have found a lot of general guides to evaluating the energy requirements for earth sheltered homes. Is there a way to predict heating, cooling requirements for such a home? I am sure that such an estimate would need to include ground temperatures, living space volumes and air movements, thermal gradients, weather, insulation and insolation, but it seems possible. Has this been done or do I need to start some modeling?

A: (Paul Shippee) Yes, there is a way; this has been done by me and others. Mmy book, THE LANGUAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY: Heat Loss & Solar Gain for Buildings that show how I did it; which, by the way, agrees well with extensive performance monitoring after the house was built. These results were compiled and published by the National Solar Data Network in the 1980's. ...and yes, the method includes all those aspects you mention in your question.

C: I have found amazingly generalized information such as fireplaces that are rated to heat 900 square feet.  Where, Florida or Alaska?  I have found suggestions for using Styrofoam blocks in underground wall construction.  These are a bit more precise, like North Dakota may need them, while Texas might not.  To decide between earth sheltered and earth beamed homes; to decide if a central AC is needed, I'd feel better if I had an energy demand calculated for typical and extreme summer and winter days. 

Q: My husband and I are in the process of purchasing an earth home. The radon testing revealed radon level of 12. How can we mitigate the radon without losing all the benefits of an earth home?

A: (Paul Shippee) First you have to determine where the radon is coming from. Is it coming our of the earth materials (including any concrete) such as walls or floor? Or is it coming in through cracks in the building envelope that are in contact with the surrounding earth? Case 1. a good grade of latex paint will block radon coming off walls and floor materials. Case 2. caulk all cracks and then retest to see if radon levels have been brought down below the threshold level of 4 pc/l

Q: I currently live in a 1960's ranch style house. It is brick on the outside. Have you every heard of someone berming dirt up to the side of a brick house for insulation? It is a pier and beam. I was thinking of doing 2 sides. I also was looking into a sod roof. Do you know where I could find information on this?

A: (Paul Shippee) You could probably berm up a few feet safely on brick siding but beware of water and moisture damage against any wood parts. Earth is heavy and needs to be supported in special ways for anything on the roof... just add attic insulation for that part. There are many books out there... search under "earth shelter" or "underground homes." I built one in Colorado called the SunEarth Home because it was also passive solar heated, a true minimal energy use dwelling. The plans are available at http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com and it is included in some of the earth shelter books you can find.

Q: Wow Kelly, this site prepares even inquistive people such as myself about all the aspects of sustainable housing. Currently I'm looking at some property in my region, Northest Louisiana which is environmetnally challenged. Our climate during the months of May - October can be quite brutal i.e. hot, humid & most of the time mosquito & insect infested. Also during the 1940's/50's some areas of my city was swampland. My question is which example of natural building would you suggest for my area?

A (Kelly): Since the greatest challenge in this zone is keeping cool enough, I believe that one of the best ways to do this is to go underground, if this is possible at the specific site where you would build. In a hot climate, you would want to orient the window areas primarily away from where the sun would penetrate them, unless you need some passive solar heating during the winter months. If your site is on swamp land, you can elevate the building, and berm it with soil brought in.

Q: I have a really crazy idea, and was wondering if it would be possible, and if there are any special precautions I would need to take. I own a 16 X 80 mobile home (7 yrs. old), and I would like to build steel inforced concrete around it and atop it, and pour earth over it, leaving only an added on brick entry room visible. I live in Texas; it is mostly hot and humid. I am a single Mom of two children, and we are on a very tight budget, but want our home to be secure from hurricanes and tornadoes. Would this be really expensive? Would I have to worry about it being damp? Would I save on central air/heating?

A: (Paul Shippee) your idea would, yes, be very expensive... and what about windows?

A (Kelly): It does seem possible to me to do something like this, and it certainly would save on utility costs and make the building more secure from natural disasters once it were accomplished, but actually doing it could be rather tricky, and the result might be rather dark inside the mobile. The weight of pouring concrete directly on the roof might well crush it, so you would have to engineer forms to support this while it cured. Ventilation would also be an issue, so this would have to worked out. The cost of doing all of this could be considerable, but I can see the temptation, since you would be preserving all of the amenities of the mobile intact. If you want to proceed with this idea, I suggest that you consult with an engineer about it.

Q: I just want to know if earth-sheltered houses can be constructed anywhere. For example can they be constructed in Pueto Rico? What about global warming? Does that affect the temperature underground? Let's say that the house was constructed in a mountain side, with heavy rain, is the house safe?

A (Kelly): In general, earth-sheltered housing is appropriate in almost any climate, since the earth helps buffer or moderate the temperature extremes. The affect of global warming will be much less noticable underground than above ground. With all earth-sheltered designs, careful attention must be placed on proper drainage at the specific site where it is built, taking into account the type of soil, the water table, and the nature of the terrain.

Q: I am fifty years old and about to embark on upon a new life. This involves a new home. I live in north east Alabama. I have had a four thousand foot lake house. It is too much house and too much heat here. We want an underground home. I have seen a few in my area and they are OK. I went searching today and found so many beautiful functional underground homes. If you have any sites that I should look at or just any information. We are just getting started. If there are any tips on land. Like buy a hill, mountain, field, forrest, etc. I just need help.

A (Kelly): Generally, picking a good site for underground building involves making sure that the drainage is good and the the water table is not too high. This often means that higher ground is preferable to lower ground. I like the idea of digging into a south-facing slope in regions where passive solar heating is desirable, but that may not be the case in Alabama.

Q: I am currently in my last year in BS Architecture in the University of the Philippines and my thesis is on "Earth Sheltered Housing in the Philippine Setting". I'd like to know if earth shelters are really as efficient in hot-humid climates as they are in most western countries...or if they are, at all, advisable in a country like ours? I have great interest in earth shelters and believe that they are do-able in a hot-humid country like the Philippines but my thesis faculty adviser seems to discourage me. I have been working very hard to have a full understanding of earth shelters and would like to know if this effort will not go to waste. I CANNOT mess up my last year in college. This is seriously do or die for me...Your expert advise could save me.

A: (Paul Shippee) There is plenty of information on earth-sheltered homes in various books and conferences that you could review to boost your (and your advisor's) confidence. In the USA, in Texas which is hot and humid, there are several examples of earth-sheltered homes that greatly reduce both heating and cooling electrical energy needs. Some of these homes are in books that you could access. There is no reason to avoid earth shelter in your climate unless it is hot all year and you ventilate with open walls.

Q: We were looking at the "Sunworks Solar Greenhouse"... We read that it will generate 100,000 BTUs of heat and were wondering what that meant as far as how much the house would save with this form of supplemental heat?

A: (Paul Shippee) It saves 80% of what would otherwise be the heating bill.

Q: I have always liked earth homes and last year I finally bought one. I guess my home is described as a berm home. It is built into a hillside and 3 walls are below ground with the south facing wall open and made of brick. It has a regular pitch roof with trusses and shingles. My question is about insulation. Our home is all electric with a forced air furnace. With power rates climbing so fast our heating bill has skyrocketed. I have about 12 inches in the attic so I think that is OK. But the walls have none. Should there be any wall insulation or would that prevent the earth from cooling the home in the summer. We live in southern Illinois so we have a wide range of tempratures.

A:(Paul Shippee) I would look into glazing the south brick walls, first of all, to capture solar heat for the winter season.  Are the brick walls solid brick or façade only? How high up do the EWN berms go on the brick? I would need a clearer picture and answers to these questions to say anything further...

The south facing brick wall is façade, brick on the outside and frame and drywall on the inside. The berm is to the top of the walls. The gutter on the north side (back) of the house is about 8 inches above the ground. On each end of the house the front wall extends out past the house about 10 feet, so the berm is to the top of the walls all the way to the front. I would like to make the house as well insulated as possible. I'm thinking of adding an outside wood/pellet burner for heating next year. Is that feasible?

I think you need to insulate the side walls down about half way to a minimum of R20. Also, if you want to capture heat from sun on the south bricks you can cover them with glass and vent the day heat into the house. Since the brick is only a façade and insulated inside, then no Trombe wall effect can be achieved.

Q: I am interested in alternative building techniques that will withstand hurricanes and high humidity as I live in northwest Florida. I have looked at the earthships but since I will probably be building this myself and am in my early 50's I would prefer something a little less labor intensive, I cannot swing a sledge hammer to tamp the tires:) I also would like to earthshelter the dwelling and grow a garden on the roof. I'm looking for something that would provide good insulation so that I could save or perhaps eliminate the need for airconditioning. My partner is extremely skeptical of the whole idea (especially the part about me building it myself:) I was wondering about buying a conventional house and encasing it in earthbags and then berming it. Do you have any suggestions?

A: (Kelly) Your idea of earthberming to provide a cooler space and roof garden is excellent. The best technology to accomplish this is a hard to know, especially since you want to do the construction yourself. You're right that pounding tires for a traditional earthship is very difficult labor. You could build an earthship using earthbags instead of tires, and that would be easier, since you don't have to pound the bags so vigorously...but it is still work, as is most any method of construction. Earthships do not generally provide for rooftop gardens, though, as they are designed for rainwater catchment.

The engineering for earthsheltering is obviously critical for their success, so a good design will be needed. The idea of buying a conventional house, covering it with earthbags, and then berming it could easily lead to disaster, as well as a lot of extra work and expense to build. I suggest that you find a well-designed house plan that would suit your needs that is already engineered for earthberming. I have several such homes listed at http://dreamgreenhomes.com/styles/earthsheltered/livingroofs.htm .

Q: I was wondering if there might be a way to build an underground room and/or addition under an existing double wide home? Possibly using a spiral stairway to connect the underground addition to the upstairs? I am in the state of Florida.

A: (Paul Shippee) Anything is possible, it's all a matter of expense - which you will have to estimate locally. You'd have to analyze structurally how you would support the home while digging the hole!!! Not impossible at all, but adds expense.

Q: We have built a Quincy building (steel arched building) and intend to cover it with straw bales followed by earth. Should we protect the metal with a plastic sheet? Should we put anything over the straw before covering it with earth? Are air spaces betweet straw bales and the metal building a problem since everything will be covered with earth?

A: (Paul Shippee) You do not need to protect metal with plastic -in fact leave it out, as it blocks moisture transfer (if there is any). Air spaces are not a problem... Covering everything with earth allows the entire strawbale and earth composite to breathe moisture. Is the structure adequate to hold the amount of earth you are placing?

Q: I am seeking lending institutuons that will hold mortgages on earth sheltered homes.

A: (John MacMillian) color="#006600"> I'm sorry to say that most banks still take a dim view of earth sheltered homes. Many will make a loan for one, but will likely appraise it as a "finished basement". They do not have an open mind. In fact, a few years ago, I took out a home equity loan and they insisted I get fire insurance - for an indestructible home that is made of 120 yards of concrete!

Q: Could you please tell me where I can find an insurance broker that insures earth shelter homes in Tennessee?

A: (John MacMillian) Allstate provided insurance for me. As with the bank, they consider it a finished basement. To tell the truth, up until I took out a note on the property, I never had insurance on the home (the contents yes). For almost 15 years, I was willing to be self-insured, so to speak. The way my home is designed and built, it can't burn, an earthquake (not likely in this area - should not harm it), it's well above the flood plane, 100+ mile per hour winds and hail have done no damage..... In a few years, when the note is paid off, I'll be dropping the insurance!

Q: I live in Beautiful Boston! I was wondering if you happen to know if there are any areas in the North East that allow earth sheltered homes?

A: (John MacMillian) Building codes differ from area to area; but I don't know of any place that specifically prohibits earth sheltered homes in all areas. There may be restrictions in subdivisions, and within city limits, but there should be some residential and/or rural areas where they would be allowed. You will need to call the building commission for each area for which you have an interest. Best of luck with your search!

Q: I'm a final year student studying architecture. My thesis topic is underground architecture. I would like to know about the HVAC systems adopted in underground construction..(especially AC systems)

A: (Kelly) One of the beauties of underground housing is that they often do not require air conditioning because the subterranean climate is so much cooler than the open air, and if it seemed necessary to install such a system, it could be sized much smaller.

Q: Any weird dreams, sense of foreboding, earthquake pre-knowledge, strange noises emanating from the earth, living in earth homes? Any radon, unwanted creepy-crawlies, snakes, flooding, claustrophobia (or does one have a sense of security)? What about radio reception, TV? What about lightening, thunder? Do you hear animals go overhead. Say, wouldn't it be neat to devote one of the underground rooms to having an in-ground-under-ground pool or tennis court? What about escape hatches, or secret passages to the surface? Having a cellar would be moot, but one must have one, I should think- (we're all becoming Hobbitized), it would be like having a closet, filled with veggies and fruits, and jars with tasty things in them.

A: (Kelly) Living in earth homes tends to be very QUIET. It is more like being very secure, and if built correctly there should be no flooding nor unwanted creepy-crawly things. They can be designed to have a very open and airy feeling about them. Radio and TV waves can often still make their way through windows. I don't think that lightning would be problem since the home is exceptionally well-grounded. It would depend on how deep the earth-sheltering is how much one might hear animals, thunder, etc. Large spaces, like for a pool or a tennis court would be difficult, or at least very expensive, to build. Escape hatches and secret passages are all possibilities...and having Bilbo Baggins' fully stocked pantry is a must!

Q: I'm very interested in this type of home, but I'm having a difficult time locating Canadian builders that do earth sheltered homes. I've heard about Earth Equity Building in Canada, but they are from TN. Do you have any Canadian builders in Alberta?  

A: (Paul Shippee) I do not know of any earth builders in Canada. However when I built the SunEarth House in Colorado in 1978, I did not know any earth builders here either. However, using research, building savvy, engineering skill (hired) and willing workers, one can build an earth home anywhere.

Q: I live in Australia and my parents have recently purchased a property in a rural, mountain area where the climate varies considerably from snow in winter (only light and quickly melts) to 40 Deg C in Summer. The property has an existing brick building (that needs work). My parents are concerned about fierce storms and more importantly being energy efficient and self reliant. They have considered digging underground and having a house underground, but I suggested making the most of the house already there by covering it with soil (or something). Time and money are issues. If they used the current house what considerations would they have - structural, effectiveness, etc.

A: (Kelly) Without being able to personally inspect the existing home, it is very difficult to assess how appropriate this might be; there are so many consideration. Depending on various factors, it might be possible to at berm soil around the sides of an existing brick home. This would probably involve some redesign of doors and windows, and some careful analysis of the strength of the walls to withstand the pressures of soil; it may be necessary to reinforce or buttress some walls. As for the roof, this is the most critical part of any underground structure, and most roofs are not designed to handle the weight and potential leakage of earth-sheltering. It might be necessary to either rebuild the entire roof structure, or at least modify it substantially...or the roof could be left as is and improved with better insulation and make it more storm resistant.

And would this provide the protection from the elements (especially the wind)?

Earth berming can reduce the impact of wind on a house considerable, and of course a completely underground house is nearly impervious to wind.

What would be the best way to cover the house (preferably with some earth for planting) without compromising the structural integrity?

See my note above about this. Most underground buildings use reinforced concrete for the roof, but it is also possible to make an earth-sheltered roof using post and beam construction, with appropriate layering of moisture barriers, drainage material, and soil.

If they dug underground, what is the quickest and easiest method to look into. One idea they had was burying several shipping containers and having them connected. Would this be safe/possible?

I do believe that one could safely bury shipping containers to make a home. These units are being used more all the time for residential use. (see this article ) One would need to be careful about exactly how to best protect the steel from any moisture intrusion. Another possibility would be to bury a prefabricated steel vaulted building (like a quonset).

Q: I've noticed that most of the Earthships I find on the net are in the southwest or other warmer to dry regions. How do you think an Earthship or Underground home would do in Northern Wisconsin or Minnesota. I'm planning on building one in that area and I'm a bit worried about keeping it warm through the long winter.

A: (Paul Shippee) There is no reason an underground home would not function well in your climate. It will function well. This presumes that all due attention is applied to considerations of heat loss, proper insulation, and solar gain if desired.

Q: My husband and I have lived in our earth home for three years. The roof is a flat roof that has just rotted out. I was wondering if you would possibly have any suggestion for a new roof?

A: (Paul Shippee) Apparently you have (had) a wood roof, since it rotted. Is the structure that is holding up the earthen roof intact
  or is there a structural hazard? Sounds like you may have to dig up the dirt on the roof to see the condition of the waterproofing. Better remove all the dirt and check every square foot. Then add 6-8 inches of foam board and leave the dirt on the ground, unless you really want an earthen roof; then you have to pay to remedy the leaks, put in new waterproofing, ascertain if the structural supports are safe, etc... In other words, think about why you want an earthen roof?  Is it worth the expense? Good foam board (not the bead board kind) will insulate your roof better. Then you can leave the earth berming at the walls in place.

Q: We're interested in an underground shelter, but we live in central Florida, with very sandy soil - any suggestions?

A (Kelly): I can see no problem in going underground in sandy soil; it actually can be an advantage because it drains water readily.

Q: I truly feel that the world is going to come to an end soon, and all I know is that I want to do everything I can to try to avoid it. I know nothing about building homes let alone homes built underground. Do you think building a home underground could save people from the end?

A: (Kelly) There are a lot of reasons to dig into the ground for housing, and many of these reasons could make life more possible under dire circumstances.

Q: Just wanting to know what earth temperatures are at what depth--in other words--how deep before I get to 55 degree air in a 90 degree AZ climate?

A: (Kelly) I don't have a chart outlining underground temperatures in various parts of the country. My understanding is that, in general, once you get below about 5-8 feet below the surface, the temperature remains constant most of the year...but what that temperature is various from region to region. My guess is that in Arizona this temperature might be closer to 60 degrees F....but that is just a guess.

Q: We live in tornado alley (Oklahoma) and although we have looked at every alternative building style out there, I can't find one that provides the energy efficiency and safety from the weather like an earth bermed home. I've helped a couple of friends build their homes and to be completely honest, I simply do not want to have to go that route again. I've pondered many a night about the viability of using a very well built manufactured home (like a Solitaire) and perhaps using stacked concrete block or earthbags along the sides and an arched concrete roof 'over' the manufactured roof and then berming the house and covering it with sod. To date, I've not found anybody on the net who has already done this and have wondered what your thoughts would be on such a project. I understand that there would be a lot of retrofitting of plumbing vents and I would have to maintain the crawlspace underneath. Basically, I'd have to 'encapsulate' the home tightly in an earthbermed shell, allowing for the existing windows and doors, etc. But since the Solitairs come with Hardyboard cement siding, double pane, insulated windows, R30 in the ceiling, R13 side walls and R15 floors, they're already well, insulated and they are built as well, if not better than many 'stick built' homes in our area. It just seems that ANYTHING above ground is fair game for twisters. Plus the extra insulating factor of an earthbermed home is so appealing. We seriously considered a 'culvert' style home very similar to military bunkers, but again, after helping friends build their homes, I'm simply burned out, and we really can't afford to hire contractors.

A: (Paul Shippee) Sounds good to me...and very doable if you pay close attention to details, and plan well in advance all aspects
...because you are marrying two very dissimilar construction modes. Sounds like a great idea, especially for protection against those tornadoes. The Hardy board siding should make mating with earth easier and lend confidence to the project. My single best advice is to hire a local structural engineer to design the arch and any other structural safety items. You need first to be concerned about safety with overhead heavy materials, and then there’s the tornado lifting forces!

Q: I have 10 acres in Texarkana, TX. I want to have an earth bermed home. I can't find a local company that does this. There are some in Texas but it will add to the cost of my home. Would an adobe home be a good alternative?

A: (Paul Shippee) Adobe will lose more heat...but seems you are in a mild climate where heating is not as important as cooling; if you have a good local source of adobe blocks, that would work; the big cost is in the transportation if far away. Two adobe block thick wall would be excellent. Cost??