Thursday, March 31, 2011 Extreme Green Homes
I have been accused of being a hippy by more than one person. In all honesty I don't really know where they would gather I am a hippy other than I like animals and I am a vegetarian. I guess that's enough to qualify me. I guess I'll take the title.
So Joey and I live right outside of New York City in Westchester County. It's just fifteen miles north of Manhattan, and feels a world away. We both grew up in pretty typical suburban areas in Texas and Florida. We went to both private and public schools, had neighborhood friends, bought food at the chain markets, and had a normal American upbringing for the most part.
So why the urge to rewind and simplify? I have been asking myself this since I moved out on my own. I am in love with the new green movement happening, even if it is over commercialized. I think it's primitive internal nature to use what's from the land. We have plans to return back to simpler times, big plans.
In just a few short years we will be purchasing land, and building multiple "earth homes". It's our master plan. We get to live all the types of life we want to in this one, and end on a really pure and simple one. We have come from the suburbs into the city life and were apartment dwellers and then returned to suburban life - but something is missing. We want to create with our hands. We want to grow our own food, build our own home, and learn to rely on ourselves. We want to share our plan, and see if we are out of our minds, or if you are thinking this is the way to live life too. Here's our plan:
Above is an earth home build by hand for $5,000. Yes, $5,000. The bed I wanted was $5,000. Can you imagine owning this home for 5K? It excited me so very much.
Another way to build green is to make an earth home, underground.
Who knew underground could be so...bright!
We just purchased The $50 & Up Underground House book, and are in research mode. Have you thought about building your own green home? Any advice for us and our readers about where to start? We are like excited little sponges right now, do tell!
Hey you! Have you gotten a chance to enter the give away going on right now ? Why not give it a shot?! $200 at MirrorMate.com is a pretty sweet give-away!
Reader Comments (4)
I say, if its your thing ...go for it! that underground home looks very luxurious!
Are underground homes possible where the ground freezes every winter?
@amy good question! from what we are reading, i gather the home stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer and you can install heating. we will surely post more info about the realistic nature of these homes as we learn more.
one thing i learned is major issues with the law and building codes.....
Underground homes are optimal for places where the ground freezes. Freezing temperatures don't penetrate that far into the ground which means that it is actually warmer below ground. Also, the earth holds a steady temperature at certain depths. You would have to check to see where that depth is, but in the continental US the frost line is usually less than six feet. Below that, the ground never becomes less than 50F. That is one of the reasons that geothermic heat pumps are so efficient.
Because of the steady temperature of the earth, in ground homes (or those with berm construction) are ideal for extreme temperature areas. Earth both insulates and becomes a kind of heat sink that transfers heat to and from the home. With minor heating (like passive solar) and proper ventilation, an in-ground home could conceivably be run without conventional HVAC.
Thanks Mike!