What is an alternative house?
The answer to this question is neither short nor simple. The reason it is not is that there is no single style of home that is "alternative". What makes a home alternative can be a function of its design, the materials used for construction, and its relationship to the environment. From what I have read, there is debate in alternative housing circles what constitutes an alternative home. It is my belief that design, materials and relationship to the environment can each define a home as alternative. Obviously, the more of these you use, the more "alternative some would consider your home to be.
A structure’s relationship to the environment can make a home "alternative through how it is connected through the earth. Typical homes are placed on pillars, slabs or foundations that separate the structure from the earth. Alternative options in design can involve earth-berming, earthen roofs, and completely underground structures. Earth sheltered (underground and bermed) homes, and homes with an earthen roof use soil as insulation. Earth sheltered homes use the moderated temperature of the earth to protect the dwelling from the elements. When properly employed, these methods can reduce energy demands with respect to heating and air conditioning.
Materials can also make a home alternative. You can use local materials such as timber from trees cleared from the construction site or dirt from bulldozing as exterior wall material (e.g. rammed earth). Other alternative materials you can are renewable materials such as bamboo and straw. You can also use recycled products or products with recycled content to build (e.g. concrete blocks containing industrial "fly ash, plastic timber, or old tires). The book The Good House Book: A Common-Sense Guide to Alternative Homebuilding by Clarke Snell contains a treasure trove of discussion on various "alternative building materials.
Design is probably the most visible signature of an "alternative home. Homes can be designed to make use of the sun’s energy through passive and active solar designs. Passive solar designs allow sunlight to penetrate the interior of the structure during winter months to collect the heat of the sun’s rays. In the summer months shades, eaves or other methods may be used to keep the sun from entering the house as a way to keep it cooler. Active solar designs may include solar hot water and/or electric generation. See the reference links and books for additional information.
What determines whether a house or housing style is alternative?
What actually makes a home "alternative is the subject of much debate within certain circles. This is analogous to asking "what makes a person conservative? or "what temperature of water is hot?". I advocate the definition of an alternative house to be far more liberal than others would define it as. My definition of an alternative home is one that incorporates solar energy design (active or passive), the use of recycled and/or renewable materials, or earth sheltering as an integral part of its design. Why so liberal a definition? It is a purely a matter of perspective. In this author’s opinion, if a homebuilder must jump through a series of hoops to build a house not within his or her comfort zone just for the accomplishment of building an alternative home, few will be enticed to do so. If the bar for building an alternative home is lower, homebuilders may feel less intimidated, not to mention the good that they do by building a more environmentally and energy-smart home.
Why should I consider an alternative house?
There are many reasons to choose an alternative house. This purpose of this web site is to provide information, not "sell alternative homes per se. Having said that, here are a couple reasons. Whether they are "good enough reasons for you is, naturally, a personal choice that this author will not pass judgement on.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: Homes using renewable materials, or materials with a low embodied energy (low energy put into the creation and transportation of the building material) conserve natural resources and, in the case of materials with a low embodied energy (e.g. excavated dirt used for berming) reduce energy consumption therefore reducing pollution and saving energy.
- Energy savings: Underground and bermed homes essentially use the earth as a buffer. Earth changes temperature more slowly than air and therefore buffers homes from the dramatic exterior air changes that the seasons bring. By shielding the house from direct exposure to the air, the interior of the house only need be raised from the ground temperature surrounding the house to room temperature during the heating season as opposed to a standard home that must battle with colder air temperatures. The same holds true in summer and warm climates. The cool soil around the home pulls the heat from the building, thus keeping it cooler which can reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning.
What Types of Problems Come with Alternative Housing?
(Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, I urge you to conduct research specific to your project/design)
Zoning and Building Codes: Because society is accustomed to traditional building methods (modular designs using pre-fabricated materials), zoning and building codes have been written based on the assumption that you will build a traditional-style house. Depending on what alternative methods you choose to employ, you may have to challenge building codes by proving that your design is safe (read: you may have to rely on engineers and architects to support your design). You may also need to prove that your design will be as safe as typical homes, which may require you to find someone with a similar design who can support you.
- If you are building an underground, bermed or partially bermed home you will need to be very careful to prevent moisture penetration. Unlike free-standing dwellings that deal mostly with water vapor, rain and snow, earth sheltered homes must withstand water in the soil that can seep into the wall. There are numerous techniques to waterproof exterior walls, but they all must be done carefully in order to be effective.
- Building Sites: Unlike freestanding homes in which almost any designcan be placed just about anywhere, earth sheltered and other alternative designs take more planning and adjustments (depending on whether you have already purchased or are attached to a specific building site). For example, homes incorporated passive or active solar energy need a clear view of the south to access the sun (though in some places there are clear skies laws to aid in this). For earth sheltered homes, the land itself can present challenges if water drainage in the soil is poor.
Its an involved process. Unlike traditional programs where you can pretty much just choose a floor plan and have someone do the building for you, alternative homes require more planning, thought and effort. It is worth it, but because there really aren't that many alternative home builders out there, you will need to work more with your contractors to get what you want.
The bottom line: By building an alternative home, one can lessen environmental damage and save money. What could be better outcomes from building an alternative home?
I admit I am not an engineer and am not a subject matter expert home construction. I encourage you to use the resources linked to this site and other reference sources to expand your own knowledge base. Alternative housing can be as practical and fascinating, as it is beneficial. Challenge yourself to looking into alternative housing options and see if it doesn’t change how you look at housing. I did and that is how this web site came to be.
