Earth-sheltered design

Home design that is partially or totally below ground, either by digging into existing topography or filling over parts of the structure. Earth-sheltered design uses the constant temperature of the soil to improve energy efficiency and can be beneficial on hilly sites by decreasing maintenance and environmental impact.

References in periodicals archive ?

Janet continued to work on her permanent home, a foam-form, partially earth-sheltered design. She moved out of the barn and into her new, energy efficient home in May of 2005 amid ever-growing pressure from SEECO, a privately-owned energy company, to grant them access to her property.

Standing your ground in the face of eroding property rights

(See "The Father of Earth-sheltered Design," Page 119.)

Earth-sheltered homes: these energy-efficient houses are bright, airy, dry and quiet

From the west, south and north, the earth-sheltered design, which features a clerestory with 11-foot windows, appears to be a covered bridge.