Where do I start if I want to build a hobbit house?
Where do I start if I want to build a hobbit hole?
I live in the Pioneer Valley of Western MA, and I'm looking to build my first home in as eco-friendly a way as possible. When I was a tour guide at a historical site, we used to show people huts that had been built into the side of a hill for insulation, and it made so much sense to me that I'm now really interested in building into a hill or into the ground as a form of geothermal cooling and heating.
Is this a complete pipe dream or a marginally good idea, and if it's the latter, any suggestions on where I would start with something like this? I'm good at carrying heavy things and working a radial arm saw, but that's about the extent of my expertise. I don't yet own the land (working on that; there are several possibilities out here), and my income is pretty modest.
An earth dwelling or ‘hobbit house’ can have a lot of appeal, but there are many drawbacks that you should know about before building one. Dirt *can* work as an insulator for homes, but it is important to understand how, so you understand its limitations. A Hobbit House would follow the basic principles of an Earthship, so I would recommend you read this page first –
Why Earthships don’t work in cold climates
The main reason Earthships are a flawed design is that the Earthship corporation seemingly does not have a good grasp on the basic laws of thermodynamics. Earth can act as an insulator from frigid winter air temperatures, but only up to the point where the air temperature in your hobbit house reaches the temperature of the surrounding earth.
We cannot tell you the exact winter ground temperature in your region but I would be suprised if it was as high as 50°F, which is much lower than what would be considered a livable indoor temperature in modern times. If you plan to keep the home above the temperature of the earth (as in above 50°F), then the ground will not be an insulator, it will be a heat sink endlessly robbing you or warmth. It is a huge step up from winter camping, but an equally huge step down from an efficient home in modern times. It made sense in the historical times you mention, because they didn't have manufactured insulation, which insulates about 10 times better than dirt.
If it sounds like I am trying to dissuade you from doing this... I cannot tell a lie. It is true. I get the appeal, but it just doesn’t stand up to any modern standard of what we would call ‘green home building’. Building into the ground can offer a lot of benefits of balancing temperatures in both summer and winter, but it absolutely must include ‘actual’ insulation if what you are after is to be in any way classified as an energy-efficient house. I hate to pop your bubble, but better now that when its too late. Have a read on that Earthship page and come back with any questions you like, we are more than happy to help.
This is extraordinarily helpful! Thank you so much!
Glad to help Jasmine. We hate to see people drop their life savings on building a house that may not do what they think it will do. Cback in if you want more help. Good luck!
(sleeping 12 to a 10x14 room probably also helped in that first year on Cape Ann!)