How to Build an Underground Home

An underground home is energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Whether it is built completely or partially underground, this home has little impact upon the land and is perfect for "green" homeowners. With plenty of skylights to bring in the sun, heating and cooling systems that use natural elements and an escape from routine home maintenance such as painting and re-roofing, the underground home is a good option in sustainable housing.

Instructions

Planning Your New Home

1. Research underground homes. This is a big decision, so get all the facts before committing to the project. Visit underground homes and talk to other underground home owners. The American Underground Construction Association is your best resource for finding undergound homes to tour. Read books about underground living. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy's website to get more information.

2. Decide what type of underground home you want to build. A completely underground home is usually built around a sunken atrium or courtyard. You enter the home by a stairway that takes you underground. A partially underground home has three sides banked with dirt, called a berm. The south-facing walls are left free in order to use solar heating. A third type of underground home is a bermed home, which has dirt banked on all sides up to the level of the windows.

3. Find a location. You can build a partially underground home into a hillside. For a completely underground home, you need a flat site with soil that drains well. According to the Department of Energy, granular soil, such as gravel and sand, are best for underground homes. Avoid clay soil and permafrost areas.

4. Hire a builder who is familiar with underground homes. Many underground homeowners say this is the most difficult part of the entire process, but you absolutely need a contractor skilled in building this type of home. The American Underground Construction Association will have names of builders in your area.

5. Plan what you want to have in your new underground home. As with any new home, design a floor plan. For the most part, the floor plan will be similiar to that in more traditional homes, unless the home is completely underground with a courtyard in the middle. But also consider items such as a living roof, where you can plant flowers and vegetables, harvest rainwater and use solar heating for your hot water. You need to make sure your builder works in proper drainage for your living roof.

6. Set a realistic budget. Extra insulation, solar heating and cooling systems and turning the roof into a vegetable garden can increase your costs in a hurry. Most underground homeowners say the cost is well worth it because of the energy savings later.

Tips & Warnings

• An underground home offers protection from weather-related natural disasters.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• U.S. Dept. of Energy's fact sheet on underground homes
• American Underground Construction Association