This type of green building protects the dwelling from temperature variations and noise. The temperature is easy to be kept constant and you don’t need expensive insulation. It is very important that you get the right sort of hill to build your green house into. It must have a free South slope because that will be your only source of sunlight. Facing an earth sheltered home towards North would be just crazy!
You can preview the home plan here and although it is very interesting, there are a few cons in this plan. I would suggest you avoid any diagonal walls. The majority of eco houses have limited indoor space. By adding diagonal walls, you decrease the usable space even further. Besides, as you see from the home plans, two of the bedrooms don’t get any direct light. The layout would need a major overhaul. Still the idea – with doubled glass surfaces instead of just one – is simply brilliant.
Wondering about eco-credentials of these homes? Please check this article comparing earth sheltered homes with earthbag domes.
