01170nas a2200133   4500008004100000245006500041210006100106260002500167490000800192520072500200100001500925700001800940856007800958       1980                        eng d00aThe Thermal Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of Earth Berming0 aThermal Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of Earth Berming  aAmherst, MAc10/19800 v5.13 a<p>A number of advantages are claimed for earth sheltered buildings; the earth provides both insulation and thermal storage and also serves to reduce infiltration and noise. This paper seeks to quantify the thermal advantages of both earth sheltering and perimeter insulation by comparing the simulated thermal performance of an earth sheltered house, a house with perimeter insulation and a house with neither. The fuel savings are then compared to the estimated construction costs to determine cost-effectiveness. The major saving from an earth sheltered building is obtained in colder climates where the effective elevation of the frost line due to the earth berms considerably reduces the cost of the foundation.</p>1 aSpeltz, J.1 aHaves, Philip  uhttps://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/publications/thermal-benefits-and-cost