Q. Have you got some basic designs?
A. Everyone's requirements are different and even more than with a conventional house, the design is mostly dictated by the site. There is a book of design ideas by Malcolm Wells (American authority on the subject of e/s) called Underground Designs which is available for sale to B.E.S.A. members @ £15.00 per copy -inclusive of postage and packaging. Many BESA members are architects - some very experienced in the design of earth shelters.

Q. What about Lighting - Is it dark?
A. There are many ways to introduce natural light into an e/s dwelling. Usually there will be at least one elevation with windows in it and the possibility of top lighting lends itself to very bright spaces and a range of architectural ideas. Some earth shelters can be much lighter than conventionally built homes. A good architect will always incorporate natural lighting into his design.

Q. What about Ventilation?
A. Because an earth shelter is largely shielded from the elements the problems of cold air infiltration are automatically reduced. A sealed system with mechanical ventilation is very energy efficient but conventional ventilation methods (like opening windows can be equally effective in warmer weather. Careful thought should be given to this aspect at the design stage.

Q. How do you stop water coming in?
A. Because earth sheltered houses are surrounded with soil which will be damp this does pose a different problem to conventional houses. Steps taken at the design stage should be taken to minimise any external water pressure - (for example a french drain around the foundations). There are quite a number of tried and tested methods of waterproofing underground buildings. These are easy to design and not too difficult to execute. The best materials for the job should be selected at the design stage and these should be tougher than the liquid applications or polythene sheeting often used in less demanding situations. Because mistakes in this direction are difficult and expensive to correct at a later date - advice should always be taken and special consideration given to this subject. A carefully designed and built earth shelter will never let the water in.

Q. Are they more expensive to build than a conventional houses?
A. Building underground should not cost much more than a conventional house and if energy saving ideas have been introduced into the design (these are much more effective in an underground dwelling) any extra cost will soon be recovered and real savings on energy will be realised. Some items do cost more (eg. waterproofing) some cost less (eg. external finishes). Some self-build earth shelters have been constructed at very low cost by using self labour and recycled materials - even some recovered from the site.

Q. How much soil should one use on the roof etc.?
A. Research has shown that 15" - 18" is considered to be an optimum. The deeper the cover the better will be the thermal characteristics of the house. But there is a trade off with the extra strength necessary to support the extra weight.

Q. Is planning permission necessary - Can I build one in the countryside?
A. Planning permission must be obtained before building. (Occasionally retrospective permission has been granted but BESA would not recommend this approach). Most local authorities make no distinction between earth shelters and conventional development and will only allow a new dwelling on land which has been so allocated in their local plan. There is, however, some evidence that sometimes e/s designs can overcome problems associated with surface development (A study by "Dames and Moore" for the Department of the Environment in the 1980s came strongly to this conclusion) and occasionally a local authority or an Inspector may look favourably upon an innovative idea. BESA is happy to give advice and help to members on this thorny problem but do not think that it is easy, or even automatic, to gain planning permission for an earth shelter. In some quarters the planning officers feel that applicants are trying to "dodge" the regulations and can subsequently be openly discouraging.

Q. Can you build an earth shelter using a timber frame?
A. This is not impossible but it is normally considered best to use materials which are stronger and more durable, eg. concrete, brick and masonry. Earth sheltered roofs are heavy and there is more than usual stress on the walls. A strong design will also optimize the life expectancy and the energy saving characteristics.

Q. Are there any earth shelters that I can visit?
A. There are a number of public buildings and visitor centres etc. which are earth sheltered but many owner occupiers of such homes also have requirements for their own peace and privacy. They should never be visited unannounced or uninvited. A telephone call to a BESA officer should be the best way of finding out the homes which might be available for visiting. We are also in touch with owners of homes under construction which might provide an instructive visit. Approaching owners directly through our links might also be a fruitful idea.