Underground Housing

This passage discusses a man who built his house underground.

Lexile Level: 1320L

Categories: Science & Technology

When Mike Oehler looked for an affordable way to build an energy-saving house, he found his answer underground. Oehler built his first underground house over thirty years ago. It cost him only fifty dollars to build the home. However, he later constructed a five-hundred-dollar addition that increased his living space considerably. While the idea of an underground house might conjure up dark and damp images for some people, Oehler's designs actually provided for high visibility, and his construction techniques produce dry living environments despite their subterranean locations. One of the primary advantages of constructing homes largely surrounded by soil is the natural heating and cooling provided by the enveloping earth, which remains consistently around fifty degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the time of year. Underground houses, or U houses, are also nearly fireproof, can be built with a minimum amount of materials, and are taxed at a lower rate than traditionally built homes. With all of these advantages, there may be more and more people moving below ground.