Earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30K
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended as an example of earth-sheltered housing and as part of a channel HN loves for architecture and efficiency.
What it is
Kirsten Dirksen profiles Steve Rees, who buried two shipping containers to build an earth-cooled, off-grid 640 sq ft home in Northern California for about $30,000, solar included.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2018 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec cwkoss · 2019-06 · on “Swedish Couple Builds Greenhouse Around Home”
I can't recommend Kirsten Dirksen's channel enough to people interested in architecture, energy efficiency, tiny homes, 'green' construction, etc. Literally hundreds of hours of high-quality content - I'm really curious how she is able to find all of these interesting people who are doing such cool things. Channel: [LINK] Some other favorites: Baubotanik shapes living tree branches into building facades - [LINK] Boeing retiree finds meaning inventing micro homes & high speed trikes - [LINK] Extreme transformer home in Hong Kong: Gary Chang's 24 rooms in 1 - [LINK] Earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30K - [this video] Yokohama narrow tiny house "breathes" & attracts local nat
Recommends jay-anderson · 2018-08 · on “An office building in Seattle that doesn't have air conditioning”
I live in the desert as well. I'd love to have a house with better insulation to spend less on AC. Earth sheltered homes seems like a great way to do that (though there are other problems - e.g. moisture, heavier roof). [this video] , [LINK] - here's a couple examples (she has visited others as well. Short of that I'd settle for a basement. Someday perhaps.
Cites gremlinsinc · 2021-12 · on “Ask HN: Tiny Home for $5k USD?”
I think they had someone w/ some engineering skill do it, so it was structurally sound and all... I'm not sure if this is the exact same one I saw, but it's similar enough... [this video]