Free ebook on Scribd: How to Build Your Own Underground Home, 2nd edition, 212 pages, by Ray G. Scott. He’s authored three previous books about underground houses. Scott explains how you can cut your heating cost 75% in an underground home. He cut his heating bill 100% by installing a wood stove and cutting his own wood.
This book has lots of good advice if you’re interested in building underground. But the home is not built with sustainable materials. It’s virtually all concrete and steel. But much of the advice would hold true if you used materials such as earthbags. Instead of going totally underground, my preference is to build on high ground with earth berming. This approach avoids moisture problems, reduces costs and speeds construction, while still getting most of the earth moderating benefits of underground homes. In mild climates earth berming isn’t necessary. So use climate appropriate design methods.
Hello
You state:
“Free ebook on Scribd: How to Build Your Own Underground Home, 2nd edition, 212 pages, by Ray G. Scott.”
Well the book may be free but after registering and loggging in to Scribd it will not allow the download until I picked a paid subscription model.
Even the so called “first month free” tells you which subscription choice will apply afterwards and then demands credit card or PayPal details before proceeding.
Fortunately withe the help of Google I was able to find a free pdf which I successfully downloaded. From what I have read so far it will be a most useful source.
Henry
Sorry to hear that. I downloaded it with no problems. Maybe it’s best to avoid Scribd in the future.
Do you/can you put some portland cement inside the earthbags to improve durability?
Some people do. Most don’t. You have to evaluate your local conditions and decide if you think it’s justified. The cement will help stabilize it.
Owen, Scribd wants me to join by paying $8.99 for one day in order to download the book. I can read the book online, but the print is very unsharp.
Too bad.
–CL
That’s strange. I was able to read it without problems.
If you want to download from SCRIBD for free, you first have to upload a (even empty) pdf file. Sounds strang but it works…