Berm house

Earth-Bermed House

When we moved to our homestead this past December, we really didn't know what to do with our earth-berm home. We knew that it was supposed to be more energy-efficient, but we had no clue how to make it energy-efficient. We thought we would just move in and see tiny electric bills from that day forward. We were so disappointed when, last winter, we simply could not keep this house warm. I was miserable. I would get out of the shower and almost freeze to death before I could get dressed. Since…

Castle with underground atrium

A lot of clients ask us about heating systems and other aspects of energy efficiency. Increasingly, people are interested in sustainable building practices and economic energy solutions. Several years ago, we were approached by a couple to design a straw bale workshop bu

In 1980 a woman named Madeline Blakeley asked me to look at a piece of land with her. She was a librarian in her early sixties whose husband had recently died. They had no children and had always lived in rented apartments. Her dream was to own a piece of property.

What is considered the most inexpensive style of single story home with 1400sqft? And how much will a basement add to cost of a home? A lot we are...

What are underground homes and how to build an earth berm house, with solutions to problems and expert advice.

This Mid-Century Modern Home Was Built by Donald Reed Chandler

Earth berms and passive solar, energy-saving ideas from the 1970s, are much more viable now, thanks to new products and systems.