Anyone for going down under?

feywon said:
Funny how quickly tech advances move and gain acceptance compared to concepts like this. I remember talk off and prototypes of various earth-bermed and underground designs when i lived in NM in Mid-1970s.

If we came into a sufficient windfall we definitely would.
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Yes. I think many minds would change if the situation got dire enough.
When it's not as bad as the alternative, we begin to see it differently.
 
bobcat said:
That one was just a photo of what the inside could look like on an underground build.
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Here's another shot of Dick Clark's Malibu home, which also shows the living room area. I've been enchanted by this house for several years so I recognized it immediately from the photo you posted.

Unusual home, gorgeous grounds, spectacular views of the Pacific.

Dick-Clarks-Malibu-Flintstones-Home-1773948981.jpg
 

bobcat said:
Yes. I think many minds would change if the situation got dire enough.
When it's not as bad as the alternative, we begin to see it differently.
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Oh i've always been in favor of underground or earth bermed housing. i just haven't been able to afford it. And these days, doing it in ways that would be more energy efficient are easier than ever if you can afford it. As i understand it there are now solar collection panels that can double as windows which means the wiring from them to house shorter and less complex than with free standing roof mounted panels. One could use those for the skylights and any other actually level with or above ground windows. I would also like to be able to clean my stovepipe myself without having to get up on a slanted roof. i just don't trust my balance and footing that much anymore.

Even without solar panels underground houses conserve energy, warmer in winter, cooler in summer. It would not even take that thick a layer. Currently we live in a 170+ year old house the outer walls are a foot thick and there's only one small window facing north and minimal ones facing west (both directions prevailing winter storms come from). Once all the drafts plugged up the interior stays comfortable in winter. (This is a regular fall chores when cools off enough to keep windows closed 24/7/ In summer, despite having no shade trees near the house, the interior stays relatively cool especially our large living room in center of house.

Early morning and late afternoon when sun pouring in peripheral rooms get warmer. Most summers just opening a window on each side of house keeps us cool except during the hottest late afternoon hours on hottest days. This year a little more as we've had more 90+ degree days. And the humidity has been higher than usual. Which means i can feel the cool of the interior when i come in but my body takes a while to cool down and feel comfortable if i'd been out in heat and humidity, especially if doing chores not just running errands.
 
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feywon said:
Oh i've always been in favor of underground or earth bermed housing. i just haven't been able to afford it. And these days, doing it in ways that would be more energy efficient are easier than ever if you can afford it. As i understand it there are now solar collection panels that can double as windows which means the wiring from them to house shorter and less complex than with free standing roof mounted panels. One could use those for the skylights and any other actually level with or above ground windows. I would also like to be able to clean my stovepipe myself without having to get up on a slanted roof. i just don't trust my balance and footing that much anymore.

Even without solar panels underground houses conserve energy, warmer in winter, cooler in summer. It would not even take that thick a layer. Currently we live in a 170+ year old house the outer walls are a foot thick and there's only one small window facing north and minimal ones facing west (both directions prevailing winter storms come from). Once all the drafts plugged up the interior stays comfortable in winter. (This is a regular fall chores when cools off enough to keep windows closed 24/7/ In summer, despite having no shade trees near the house, the interior stays relatively cool especially our large living room in center of house.

Early morning and late afternoon when sun pouring in peripheral rooms get warmer. Most summers just opening a window on each side of house keeps us cool except during the hottest late afternoon hours on hottest days. This year a little more as we've had more 90+ degree days. And the humidity has been higher than usual. Which means i can feel the cool of the interior when i come in but my body takes a while to cool down and feel comfortable if i'd been out in heat and humidity, especially if doing chores not just running errands.
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Wow, the exterior walls are a foot thick. That's incredible, but very forward thinking for saving money, and also for structural durability. I am curious what they are made of.

Also by generating your own power with panels, and conserving the ambient temp inside, it would be a very efficient design for comfortable living.
 
bobcat said:
Wow, the exterior walls are a foot thick. That's incredible, but very forward thinking for saving money, and also for structural durability. I am curious what they are made of.

Also by generating your own power with panels, and conserving the ambient temp inside, it would be a very efficient design for comfortable living.
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Our house was built in 1860s NM. Someone showed good sense in the window placements, but they also honored indigenous traditions by having the main entry door face east. When we first moved in 12 yrs ago on the two equinoxes, the sun shone directly thru that door. Since then the numerous earthquakes around the globe have shifted the axis of Earth just enough to be noticeable when one had such a clear starting reference point.
 

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