Farms: Tour an Earth-Bermed House in Upstate New York

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1. OMG! Could it have been any more obvious Alan carrying that wood with not a speck of dirt or sweat on him or his polo shirt that he just wanted to look like he put some labor into it?
2. Let's clad the entire energy-efficient house and roof in one of the most conductive materials available.
3. Ive been in a few in Southern Ohio. I dont care what you do , they all end up with moisture problems and smell and feel like a dark dank basement. And moldy.
4. Is funny how americans think that a wooden house is more practical and beautiful than a one made of concrete. Please. A wooden house implies maintaining in terms of 5 years and the fear to die burned inside. Here in Southamerica you have to be so poor to live in a wooden house. All of these beside the horrible sensation of feel and hear every step of someone upstairs. I would hate to live in a house in wich I could make a hole in the wall in my fist. In fact, I would feel myself living in the streets with a house like those you love, US and canadian people. Be smarter, I suggest. A concrete house is not only more comfortable, secure and really everlasting. You can sale a real house (made of concrete or stone) for more money.
5. Beautiful
6. $$$ per square foot anyone.....I bet it was not cheap.
7. Bob Vila was walking on the standing seams of the copper roofing. How inconsiderate!
8. Bob, I fell in love with this kind of architecture back in the 1970's when I ran across the work of Malcolm Wells. I hope you can spotlight some of his designs in this series. And even though I live in L.A. these days, I appreciate you giving me a look back at Dutchess County where I grew up. (In Poughkeepsie, NY; not far from Alan's project in Wassaic.) Plus I've been watching you since that first Victorian renovation in Dorchester, Mass. back in 1979. Keep your informative and inspiring videos coming.
9. I'd like to know *how much does a 2 foot thick concrete slab costs to pour and finish? Did you consider installing radiant floor heat instead of the thicker slab?
   
   *How much was that nice copper roof and did you give the copper theft in America any security considerations? Now many solar panels are needs and how many batteries will be needed? Are you on a well or municipal water?
10. Theses the best XDD
11. I always enjoy people quoting the temperature of going underground. He quotes 54 degrees in this video. Where? On a glacier? Generally 68 is the quoted temp. That isnt accurate either.
12. The problem with earth berm housing in upstate NY is the air quality. Most of the upstate NY has a radon problem. It wouldn't be my first choice of builds.
13. If you really want to save money and energy build with earthbags or rammed earth. Building this place probably cost in the 6 figures...
14. What about the carbon footprint of that fancy new sawmill? You can build one with a little ingenuity using recycled components. This project looks like a lot of money and man hours were involved. Its not nearly as green as this guy is leading on.
15. Good idea. Put the chimney directly next to the fresh air intake...
16. Two things that concern me about houses like these: one is that few people own property with a nice sloping southern exposure, and the second is that once the recycled material is taken, there is no more for others. So a house like this is a one-off and cannot be replicated in quantities that can make a dent in energy consumption.
17. "building green means ugly" 
    No.. building green means expensive.. at least to make a comfortable sized 100% eco friendly home, I mean this is a good eco friendly home, using a TON of recycled material which would have saved a heap of money then regular material, yet it is soo expensive
18. everything in this world is recycling materials (take something and give it a new propose .... like petrol ... someone dumped this in the subterranean lakes, to terraform the Earth ...hehehe don't tell me that all the animals died in the same place, and the last one covered with stone the place )
19. Old news, and maybe sustainable, but the price tag associated with the design is way beyond the pale.
20. where can I find plans or reference materials on sizing the mechanical systems and construction to make this work? I have an excellent site for building into a slope that is south facing. I wish to leave my successors and descendants a home for the ages that is efficient and trouble free. great american earthship in a non- arid climate.