Product Description
High energy costs have spurred the search for new and better ways to increase energy in family dwellings throughout America. One exciting solution is to reduce our energy needs by building underground. "Underground Homes" offers the layman a complete and thoughtful approach to planning, building, and inhabiting an earth-sheltered home. Author Louis Wampler takes the reader step by step through a potential maze of construction problems. He uses simple language and numerous diagrams and illustrations to answer the questions people ask most about an underground home.
The book offers information and guidance on such key factors as
Planning interior and exterior design
Choosing the proper site
Insulating for maximum energy savings
Waterproofing the structure
Deciding which roof will work best on your house
Selecting appropriate heating and cooling systems
"Underground Homes" also addresses specific problems associated with subterranean homes-- determining the local water table, reinforcing concrete with steel, and using skylights and windows. It also discusses the common psychological barriers to living underground, presenting solutions and insights into these problems. best on your house
Selecting appropriate heating and cooling systems
"Underground Homes" also addresses specific problems associated with subterranean homes-- determining the local water table, reinforcing concrete with steel, and using skylights and windows. It also discusses the common psychological
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Underground Homes, 2008-08-17
The book was shipped quickly and at a fare shipping cost. Book had a lot of good information. Be more than glad to do business with them again.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Underground Homes, 2007-01-18
This may be a little book in pages,but it is definitely worth it. There are step by step procedures to follow for building an underground / earth berm home.It covers the pitfalls of inappropriate drainage and also Earth-roof designs. There are new techniques now for Earth-roof designs that would be well deserved reading. With energy costs so exorbitant one would think this type of building would stage a comeback.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
The basics are all covered in easy language and diagrams., 2006-11-07
The layman who wants an easy introduction to planning and building an earth-sheltered home typically has plenty of construction guides to choose from, but UNDERGROUND HOMES differs from most in offering all the basics, from site choice and waterproofing and insulation choices to handling problems unique to subterranean homes, such as determining the local water table and handling heating and cooling systems for different climates. The basics are all covered in easy language and diagrams.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
7 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
Hesitant however trying to be fair, 2004-06-06
Interested.Trying to be as fair as possible. The book is interesting to say the least. I would use it as a guide if I were building /and I, my wife and I might just do that. We have just retired and our retirement home will be either underground or a log cabin. her and my choice respectively, so both of us are looking into the possibilities. I will use your book as a reference. I have obtained a copy from a friend and will see how the progression goes from there. I will stay in touch.
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
Skinny and dated, but it's a good conceptual starting point, 2003-04-11
This book is fairly old (1978; revised in 1980), and slim (only 107 pages of text). But there aren't too many books that cover underground homes, and this is a fair overview.
If you're just starting to think about building a house, and want to consider the underground or earth-sheltered option, this book makes a decent starting point. You'll need to search out other materials if the idea strikes your fancy, though.
Chapter titles:
---------------
Introduction
Lot or Land
Structure
Waterproofing
Insulation
Interior
Natural Light
Heating and Cooling Systems
Exterior
Standard Roofs: A Compromise Solution
Building Sequence
Conclusion
Reference Material
Index