Down to Earth Homes
(Page 5 of 6)
February/March 2003
By Dan Chiras
Once you've waterproofed, insulate. Although an earth-sheltered home depends on the temperature-moderating qualities of the earth, good insulation (usually a rigid foam) between the building envelope and surrounding soil helps to ensure greater year-round comfort. In the winter, for instance, it reduces heat migration out of the home and into the soil. It also keeps walls warmer and prevents condensation, which can lead to mold and mildew and a host of related health problems.
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Earth Sheltered Technology installs 3 inches of rigid polystyrene foam insulation over vertical walls and 6 inches over the roof, covered with 3 or more feet of earth. Terra-Dome places 2 inches of rigid polystyrene foam over the dome, which is typically 3 to 7 feet below grade; 1 inch of rigid foam over the back walls; and 2 to 3 inches over any exposed concrete, which is then typically stuccoed or covered with brick.
To further diminish heat loss and trap heat around the structure, I installed wing insulation — rigid foam insulation that is buried 18 inches below the surface and extends 2 to 4 feet horizontally from the walls. I placed insulation over a 6-inch layer of crushed granite to keep the area around my walls dry. As an added precaution, I also constructed plastic-lined and rock-filled drainage ditches on the surface to prevent water from percolating down from the surface. The drier the soil, the lower the heat loss.
For optimal winter comfort, orient your home to the south to take advantage of the low-angled winter sun and include the proper amounts of glass and thermal mass in your design (see "Build a Solar Home and Let the Sunshine In," August/September 2002). In many climates, passive-solar heat can serve most of your heating needs; only a small backup heating system (such as a woodstove) may be needed for heat when the clouds roll in.
Even if your site isn't ideally suited for passive-solar, an earth-sheltered home still will outperform a conventional home. The folks at Earth Sheltered Technology build homes that face in any direction, and say even north-facing homes enjoy "in excess of 50 percent energy savings in the winter and considerably more in hot summer months."
Whether you're in the market to build, buy or sell an earth-sheltered home, keep in mind that earth-sheltered homes still are considered by many to be "alternative." Selling one may require far greater diligence than selling a conventional home. If you're a buyer, you may encounter burners when applying for a conventional mortgage, which could require you to seek out more progressive lending agencies. And finding an earth-sheltered home to buy can be even more problematic, Shafe says.
But, in a way, that speaks volumes for the merits of these structures. Of all the earth-sheltered homes he's built, only 10 have been put on the market in the past nine years. His clients like their homes so much that they stay for life.
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