A garage and single-level living were non-negotiable ... According to the Department of Energy, there are two kinds of earth-sheltered homes. An underground home is built entirely below the ...

The couple began looking into alternatively built houses and found a plan they thought would work: an earth-sheltered, or berm, home. "I said, 'We're not going to spend one more winter like this.' ...

and an earth berm. The end of driveways may have to be raised to be part of a barrier. Metal gates that close may be needed if raising the driveway wouldn’t work near an existing garage.