Earth-sheltered design¹employs the earth as a major component of a building’s thermal control system. There are two basic types of earth-sheltered house designs—underground and bermed²³.Underground Earth-Sheltered Homes²are built below grade or completely underground. An atrium or courtyard design can accommodate an underground house and still provide an open feeling.Bermed³earth-sheltered homes have earth banked against the exterior walls, sloping down away from the building. The berm can be partial or total.In-Hill³earth-sheltered homes are built into a hillside, with earth covering the roof and part of the exterior walls.