RIGBY — Underground homes aren’t exactly the rage in eastern Idaho, but for a few locals the unique dwelling type is perfect for their needs.
Dennis and Holly Rocks of Rigby build their home with energy efficiency in mind and say the house is so sturdy it’s ready for anything. While the front part of the Rocks’ home is clearly visible at ground level, the rest of it is beneath the ground.
“As (Dennis) puts it, it’s like his zombie apocalypse home. Everything is so energy efficient that if we had to survive without power, we (could),” Holly Rocks said.
The trend, popular in the 1970s, may seem long gone, but the Rocks’ earth berm was finished in 2012. It took the couple five years to complete.
“He’d had plans about doing it many years ago, and all of a sudden he got the opportunity to do it,” Rocks said. “He’s always dreamed he wanted to.”
The house is primarily made of cinder blocks, and believe it or not, it’s not as deep in the ground as it appears.
“It’s only 2 feet in the ground, but it looks like it’s further because we’ve got the dirt up the side of the home,” Rocks says.
The concrete structure and dirt keep the home warm through winter and cool during the summer months. The Rocks’ home isn’t the only underground home in the area — there are several others in Idaho Falls. Each of the them benefits from the energy efficiency.
Jeff Hickok of Earth Sheltered Technology has been building this style of home for almost a decade. He said one of the main benefits of underground homes is saving on energy, as you can save up to 80 percent on utilities.
“Energy efficiency is the biggest (advantage), the most important though is the safety of it,” Hickok said.
He said the homes have a better chance of surviving wild fires and even tornadoes.
“A tornado cannot hurt this home because a tornado has to be able to surround something to damage it,” Hickock said, “A tornado cannot surround this earth home — the tornado has to pass over it.”
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