If you’re unable to join the growing legion of earth-covered homeowners, then the next best thing is to apply the principles to an above-ground home, especially by insulating for thermal efficiency. The surrounding earth is a natural insulator that helps keep temperatures stable, making elements such as passive solar design and thermal mass even more effective for heating and cooling the home.
“When you build underground the earth stays around 14°C, rather than plummeting to zero degrees, so you’re starting at 14°C to warm the house,” says Bridget.
The design and construction principles can also be adapted to enhance the fire-resilience of homes in bushfire-prone areas, especially around roof design. “If I had an above-ground home, I would firstly try to create screening through landscaping, such as rocks, earth mounds…
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Renew (Digital) - 1 Issue, 166 / Jan-Mar 2024