Previously I mentioned I was looking at the Deltech homes which are these prefab Round houses. I got their literature and a video from them and am even more interested.
The more I think about it though, the more I think I want to move most of the house underground to take advantage of the earth as insulation from the elements and temperature differentials. I am now thinking I would like to see a 2500 sq ft round main level that is windows all around to capture as much passive solar energy as possible. But then have a dual layer basement with the top basement being living space and the lower basement being storage and utilities.
Does anyone know if a dual layer basement in a single family residential building will pass building codes? I would visualize concrete block construction with steel I-beams supporting the floor of the upper basement and then the Deltec homes has their special steel beam that is set under the exact middle of the main floor and that would go all the way to the bottom level and be set into the concrete. I know that there could be no bedrooms in the lowest level, all bedrooms require an egress to the outside.
The big win of this design would be of course the protection from elements and reduced (hopefully nearly nothing) heating/cooling bill. The temp 6ft and below underground is a near constant temp around 50-60 degrees. That means no cooling in the summer and little heating in the summer, in fact, the heat off my computers would probably heat the place.
So does anyone know if a dual layer basement would pass code?
