Earth-Covered Buildings: an Exploratory Analysis for Hazard and Energy Performance
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EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS FOR HAZARD AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE MORELAND ASSOCIATES FORT WORTH, TEXAS Prepared for THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY DIVISION OF MITIGATION AND RESEARCH WASHINGTON, D.C 20472 November, 1981 Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited Final Report FEMA Work Unit Number 4411E Contract 81-600091 REPRODUCED BY NATIONAL TECHNICAL /INFORMATlON SERVICE j u.s. DEPARTMENT Of COMMERCE . Sl'RIIlGFlELD, VA 22161 . SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Data E(ltered) READ INSTRUCTIONS REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE BEFORE COMPLETING FORM 1. REPORT NUMBER 12. GOVT ACCESSION NO••. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER MAl-8l ~n2 18956 4 4. TITLE (and ~ubtltlto) 5. TYPE OF REPORT &. PERIOO COVERED Final Report 9-79/11-81 Earth-Covered Buildings: An Exploratory , Analysis For Hazard And Energy Perfor- 6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER mance 7. AUTHOR(Ir) 8. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(Ir) Frank L. Moreland, et al. B:b.6:tl.fiJ19-1 .. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT, TASK AREA &. WORK UNIT NUMBERS Moreland Associates 908 Boland, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 4411E 11. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS 12. REPORT DATE November 1981 FEMA - Washington 20472 IS. NUMBER OF PAGES 312 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME &. AOORESS(1l different from Controlling Office) '5. SECURITY CLASS. (of rhJe report) unclassified 158. DECLASSIFICATION DOWNGRADING SCHEDULE 16. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of thle Report) Approved for public release, distribution unlimited 17. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of the lIbetr~ct entered J(I Block 20, it dllferent hom Report) 18. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 19. KEY WORDS (ContJnulI on reverae aide If (lecellaat")' and Identify by block number) earth-covered buildipgs, earth-covered settlements, performance, long-term benefits, fire, storms, nuclear radiation shielding, energy consumption, economic analysis, hazard analysis, public policy 20, ABSTRACT (Ccmt&zue ..,.--. RefIt It ~ aJd Iden.tlfT by block nuznb_) The performance of earth-covered buildings is examined regarding storms, nuclear detonations, earthquakes, fire, nuclear radiation energy consumption, compatibility with solar energy systems, peak-load effects, soil and groundwater effects, air and climate effects, occupant evaluation, and resource management. Potential longterm benefits are assessed, including the areas of economic benefits, community benefits, and security benefits. DO 1 ~~"73 1(73 EDITION OF I NOV 65 IS OBSOLETE SECURiTY CLASSIFtCATION OF nus P"GE (When Dete Entered) EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS FOR HAZARD AND ENERGY PERFORMANCE MORELAND ASSOCIATES FORT WORTH, TEXAS Prepared for THE FEDERAL EMEI~GENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY DIVISION OF MITIGATION AND RESEARCH WASHINGTON, D.C. 20472 November, 1981 Approved for Public Release Distribution Unlimited Final Report FEMA Work Unit Number 4411E Contract 81-600091 \ -u.,... This material is based on research supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under contract number DCPA01-78-0308, Library of Congress Number 81-600091 Copyright 1981 Frank L, Moreland This report has been reviewed in the Federal Emergency Management Agency and approved for publication, Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS FOREWORD PART I OVERVIEW Main Introduction 1 Main Summary 25 PART II HAZARD ANALYSIS Introduction 47 Storms 49 Blast 57 Earthquake 67 Fire 81 Nuclear Radiation 93 Summary 117 PART III ENERGY ANALYSIS Introduction 123 Estimates of Energy Requirements 127 Compatibility with Solar Energy Systems 151 Impact on Peak Load 157 Long-Term Potential Impact 163 Summary 175 PART IV ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Introduction 181 Soil and Groundwater Effects 185 Air and Climate Effects 193 Psychological Response 199 PART V ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Introduction 217 Housing Example 221 Summary 229 PART VI PUBLIC POLICY 231 APPENDIX I THE EARTH-COVERED BUILDING MOVEMENT: A PERSPECTIVE 253 By Kenneth Labs APPENDIX II EARTH FORMING AND PLANT SELECTION FOR EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS 267 By Dr. Geoffrey Stanford APPENDIX III EXURBAN EARTH-COVERED SETTLEMENTS 277 By Frank L. Moreland APPENDIX IV COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS: EARTH-COVERED HOUSE 289 By The Ehrenkrantz Group FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT This study was undertaken to explore the overall utility of earth-covered buildings from a variety of performance perspectives. The study examines the proposition that earth-covered buildings can have high levels of performance across a broad range of categories, including short and long-term energy efficiency, relative safety under physical stress, economic performance, and environmental effects. Our conclusion from this explora tory analysis is that the potential for public and private benefit from earth-covered buildings is signifi cant and worthy of further development. The list of acknowledgments for a study of this sort can never be complete. Certainly Ralph Garrett of FEMA was a prime mover of the study. With the civil defense agencies from the beginning 26 years ago, Mr. Garrett provided agency oversight, and his wisdom, support, and perserverance were crucial to the successful completion of the study. Mr. Garrett retired near the end of the study and his successor, Ralph Swisher, has continued the history of support. Other members of FEMA who gave counsel to the study were George Sisson, Charles Thiel, and Mike Puchata. Anna Saunders helped my firm negotiate the straits of government contracts, which I deeply appreciate. Dr. Conrad Chester of Oak Ridge National Laboratory was helpful in many ways. Forrest Higgs and Mark Magnussen proofread with a vengence, thank goodness. During the course of the study far more people were consulted than were reimbursed for their contribution, i-e" they include Royce LaNier, Craig Hollowell, Thomas Bligh, Lloyd Jones, Raymond Sterling, Dick Vasaka, Garvin Warnock. The paid consultants made contributions beyond the tasks asked of them; they were: Storms: Dr. Joe R. Ealgeman, University of Kansas Blast: Thomas Carroll, Carroll Associates, Bethesdc Maryland and H. L. Murphy, H. L. Murphy Associates, San Mateo, California Earthquake: Dr. Ronald Scott, California Institute of Technology (principal author) Fire: Dr. Robert Fitzgerald, University of Massachusetts (principal author) Nuclear Radiation: Thomas Carroll, Carroll Associates, Bethesda, Maryland; H. L. Murphy, H. L. Murphy Associates, San Mateo, California Energy Requirements: Dr. Ashley Emery and Dr. Charles Kippenhan, University of Washington Compatibility with Solar Systems: Dr. Jan Kreider, University of Colorado Soil and Ground Water Effects/Air and Climate Effects: Dr. Douglas Cargo, Cargo and Company, Dallas, Texas (author) Psychological Response: Dr. Robert Bechtel, University of Arizona (author) Economic Analysis: The Ehrenkrantz Group, New York City (a special thanks to Ezra for suggestions early on) Public Policy: Richard Hamburger, Washington, D.C. (a special thanks for early suggestions) The Earth-Covered Building Movement: Kenneth Labs, Undercurrents, New Haven, Connecticut Earth Forming and Plant Selection: Dr. Geoffrey Stanford, Greenhill, Dallas, Texas ii In a different vein, Charles Fairhurst and Torn Atchison of the American Underground Space Association have shown a patience throughout the research period that I appreciate. The staff at Moreland Associates deserves recogni tion, they are: Jon Hand, research associate; Don Strickland, graphics; JoAnn Carson, secretarial assistance. Adaire Fisher and Shannon Halwes made editorial and production contributions that went beyond the call of duty, as did Karen Hardwick, typist of the manuscript. I am indebted to these people. Tenacious Adaire should write a story about this report and its five rewritings. As for me, this study was a major event, but I look forward to a vacation from words. Jon Hand has noted that his blood is on many of these pages and that is true. Jon had major responsibi lities for the development and presentation of data throughout the study, and he contributed most importantly to the Energy and Hazard parts of the study. Many of the drawings were made by Jon as well. I admire his perseverance and I am grateful for his contribution. Indeed, Jon's own contributions to research and develop ment in habitat design are already significant, and his work here was indispensable. This research was conducted over a two-year period that saw for me a transition from academia to the so-called real world. That transition and this report have benefited greatly from the support of my parents, and I am deeply grateful to them in more ways than can be expressed. Three people funded earlier studies that led to this one, they are Seth Tuttle and William Hakala, both of the National Science Foundation, and John Cable of the Department of Energy. am indebted to these people and many others, we all hope this document assists decision makers as they determine the form of new construction. iii Richard Hamburger has made the point that forces of nature aren't in themselves hazards, so our use of the word needs clarification. People underprotected in the presence of the forces considered in this study probably see them as hazards, and it is in this sense the word hazard is used here. Frank L. Moreland September 5, 1981 iv PART I OVERVIEW MAIN INTRODUCTION The decade of the 1970s saw concern developing in the United States about energy use in buildings. It also saw a reawakening of concern