Bamboo Nursery

An Energy Efficient Home
Mickey and I began our home in 1975, right after the OPEC oil embargo in 1974. This was a unique time. People began to thing about energy and the enviroment. For the first time solar energy, wind power, and other forms of alternate energy were in the news. Several underground buildings were built at this time. I read about an architect, Malcolm Wells, who had designed underground homes that were very energy efficient. We ordered a set of plans just to see how it was done. We studied these plans and others, read all the books we could fine, talked to architects and structural engineers and ended up designing our home ourselves. We took about 10 years to get the home to the point where we could move in. We then spent the next several years upgrading and landscaping.
Our home has a number of "green" features. Being underground the temperature stays near 58 with out any heat. This means we only have to raise the temperature a few degrees on the coldest days. We used a small wood stove to heat the 2500 sq. foot home for many years. We later changed to gas logs (in the heater). There is a 20 foot, glass wall looking into the atrium that faces south. This room is floored with dark tile that soaks up solar heat most winter days. There is a small roof that extends out over the glass was that blocks sun during the summer. The window are all double paned. There is an extremely energy efficient heat exchange ventilation system. Most lighting is with energy saving florescent bulbs.
Our country soon forgot the lessons of 1974, went back to our old habits, and we were soon more dependent of OPEC than ever. Seeing people take an interest alternate energy and conservation again is a positive sign. We've been extremely happy with our underground home bor the past 24 years and would do it all again.