Earth House - Disadvantages

Disadvantages

The specific architecture of earth houses usually leads to non-righted, round-shaped walls, which can cause problems concerning the interior decoration, especially regarding furniture and large paintings. However, these problems can be anticipated during the conceptual design of an earth house.

Unless properly ventilated, earth-sheltered homes can have very high humidity levels, causing mold or mildew growth. The below-ground orientation of many earth-sheltered homes can allow accumulation of radon or other undesirable materials.

Despite large windows (usually facing south), many earth-sheltered homes have dark areas in the areas opposite the windows. All natural light coming from one side of the home can give a "tunnel or cave effect". This may be alleviated by strategic use of skylights, solar tubes, or artificial light sources.

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