01 Earth-Sheltered Passive Home Plans
01 EARTH-SHELTERED PASSIVE HOME
Earth-sheltered buildings are best protected against extreme temperature variations, storms, earthquakes, noise and even military air strikes.
Earth-sheltered Passive is based on principles of passive solar design, internal heat zoning and compact planning .
The Living Room, Kitchen, Dining and Bedrooms all face maximum sunlight, whereas secondary spaces are zoned in the back and are completely covered with earth. The Utility Room shelters heating installations but can also be used as a Garage, Store Room, Guest Room or Gym, as required.
The house could be embedded into the slope of an existing hill or built on flat ground as excavated earth could also be used to berm the three building facades.
All windows are oriented towards the sun to attract maximum solar radiation during the cold season. The windows are provided with external reflecting rigid insulating shutters, operated manually to regulate the amount of sun needed throughout the day according to season. These shutters can also be closed at night to store solar heat gained during the day.
Roof area can be used to grow vegetables or fruits. An insulated vertical wind-catch provides natural cross-ventilation and lighting to the Living Room and Bedroom overhead. An aquaponic (or hydroponic) pond is used to cool the air and grow fresh fish and vegetables for the homestead. The wind-catch can also be oriented to face local prevailing winds, thereby maximising natural ventilation. Vertical gardens can also be created on the earth slopes.
Walls and foundations are made of recycled concrete blocks with recycled paper fillings. Recycled glass is used for floor insulation. An insulating entry air-trap with sliding doors and tempered, insulated glass provides more than adequate insulation at building entrance. All windows are sliding, double-glazed with optional bead-wall installation.
Water-saving sanitary ware has been used throughout this eco-house.. Vertical services run through a shaft, provided with an access panel for ease of inspection and maintenance.
