Customer Reviews

Earth Sheltered Housing Design: Guidelines, Examples, and References

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Earth Sheltered Housing Design: Guidelines Examples, and References- Universty Of Minnesota ~ ISBN: 0442288212

318 pages, well done, many examples and styles of sheltered and underground designs.

Fabulous technical guide to earth sheltered (underground) housing.

Chapters include site planning, architectural design, energy use, structural design, waterproofing and insulation, building codes, illustrative designs, cold climate designs, warm climate designs.

Includes photos of homes, design details, backfilling, solar gain, roofs, and many real world examples shown including Davis Caves, solaria and ecology houses.

Appendices include energy calculations and comparisons, financing issues and references.

Architects represented: Don Metz, the Winston House and the baldtop dugout; John Barnard, ecology houses; Carmody and Ellison, the Jones House; Michael McGuire, the Clark Nelson House; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Karsky, the Karsky house; Joe Topiv, the topic house; Andy Davis, the Davis Cave; Big Outdoors People, big outdoors dome (concept only); Malcolm Wells, solaria; Ron McClure, rousselot house; Coffee & Crier, bordie residents; William Morgan architects, the Dune House; David Wright environmental architects, the sundown house at Sea Ranch; Roland Coate, the Alexander house; Philip Johnson, the Geier House; Herman DeJong, Terrasol (unbuilt). Terrific photos of this midcentury modern concept.

In-depth references and bibliography.

B&W images and illustrations.
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From The Back Cover:
Before the use of fossil fuels was commonplace, man often turned to the earth for protection from the elements and extremes of climate. Now, with fuel supplies dwindling and fuel prices rapidly rising, it is time to reconsider the benefits of habitation below the earth's surface.

This book of guidelines offers homeowners and architects a comfortable and economic approach to underground housing based on modern construction techniques. It provides plans, details and photographs of existing examples of earth sheltered houses from around the country, and shows how to design homes using such low cost natural resource and energy-saving systems as layers of soil insulation and passive solar heating. Many of the homes illustrate how the designs can be adapted to take advantage of specific natural surroundings.

Avoiding the use of technical language whenever possible, the authors give clear-cut explanations of energy performance in earth sheltered homes, as well as helpful hints on selecting materials and equipment. The reader will find basic information on warm climate and cold climate designs, including detailed coverage of plans, site selection, waterproofing and insulation, as well as zoning codes and other public policy issues that relate to underground construction. Essential advice is given on systems which provide maximum protection from wind chill, unwanted infiltration, and direct heat loss. All the facts are here on creating a durable, low maintenance structure that is not only economical, but also as comfortable as a conventional home. Detailed appendices offer precise information on financing, building codes, and product information.

Forward-looking homeowners, architects, and planners will value this comprehensive and timely study. The AA Journal calls it "The first comprehensive underground design manual."

The Undergound Space Center:
A comprehensive research program studying problems relating to resouce utilization, the Center draws upon the efforts of numerous experts of the scientific community at the University of Minnesota as well as professional engineers and architects working in the areas of innovative residential design and energy research.

I have been drawing house plans for recreation since I was a teen. Now that our second child is soon off to college I've been more seriously considering house designs as my husband and I hope to build a home that will serve us long into our old age. (We've always bought slightly used homes from others; this time I want to start off in a new home.)

I fell in love with an earth sheltered house in Pennsylvania when I was in high school and visiting a family for a weekend. Ever since I've thought it would be a great idea, but had shied away from the idea after living through one basement that looked like a cavern wall every time it rained. Of course that house was more than 200 years old. And my handyman assured me that it was normal for that age house.

Now we live in sandy New Hampshire, which is a great spot for dry basements. So I'm daydreaming again and planning an economical design that will be equal parts environmentally friendly and just plain cool.

I bought this book to help keep my designs more reality-based. And to see what other considerations I needed to budget for. I was happy to see that years of hobby design work had led me to consider almost everything I need to take into account for such a house, and I appreciate the basic instructions the book has to offer. Of course I'll need to ultimately turn to a licensed architect (if only for my own peace of mind), but I am considering general managing the project myself.

If you're interested in earth sheltered housing designs and considerations, this is the book for you. If you want glossy pages of houses this might not be your design book. It's much more utilitarian and thorough than a photo-essay style house design book.

This book is an "must have". It contains complete formulars that help the average person consider the design requirements.

Although it reads a little like a technical manual at times, it has a lot of information and reasearch assist someone currious about a lot of the factors and planning that go into an earth sheltered home.

This is a must have for those planning on building a new home. It covers the different principles and techniques on Earth Sheltered construction in a logical and scientific manner. It looks at earth sheltered building from a engineering perspective and provides the testing means and results. I suggest not even talking to a builder until you've read this book.

Perfect, 'exactly what it said on the tin'!!!!!

Came well packaged and exact time as specified

Very academic approach, and seems to have significant practical testing. Excellent descriptions of techniques and pros and cons of each. I enjoyed this book immensely.