What are Earth-Sheltered Homes?
Earth-sheltered homes are homes which are integrated into the surrounding earth so that they nestle into the landscape, rather than projecting from it. The design is sometimes chosen for aesthetic reasons, but it is also highly efficient. Numerous construction firms offer earth-sheltered construction as part of their services. It can be unusual to find an earth-sheltered home for sale, since the non-traditional homes are often greatly loved by their owners. The concept of earth-sheltered homes is centuries old, with numerous extant examples of earth-sheltered construction visible in Europe especially. Early earth-sheltered homes were often cut into mountainsides, taking advantage of the earth as a natural insulator. The turfed roofs of these homes could be used as a garden and to conceal the home, an issue for some humans who wanted to avoid enemies. In the 1970s, the idea began to experience a major revival, primarily in response to the energy crisis which gripped a large part of the
