Notes from the Underground

We are building an earth-sheltered house, hoping to be more sustainable, on the wooded banks of the fastest-flowing part of the Salmon River north of Kingston, Ontario, where we will live nearly maintenance-free, listening to the roar of the rapids.

Our earth-sheltered house will have a Trombe wall on the south side for light and passive solar heating. This part of the house will contain an open-concept living/dining area snuggled around a woodstove, plus a kitchen and pantry with a three-season room on the river side. Our office overlooking the rapids and a sitting and napping area will be on the second floor.

The rest of the house, including study, bedrooms, guest room, workshop, laundry, systems room, and garage will be sheltered under native groundcovers and two to three feet of soil. Since the earth is 18 degrees C at most times, our heating and air conditioning will be free. In fact, we may have to heat slightly year-around with in-floor heating provided by solar hot water.

For more go to Notes from the Underground