Would you live underground?

Here in this part of England the soil is clay, so underground structures must be heavily waterproofed and have a high structural integrity to withstand a head of soil water and the large ground movement, as clay shrinks and expands. Though there are places here where natural caves or excavations in rock have been used to make dwellings The damp climate means ventilation is a bit issue but using forced ventilation system is going to be more environmentally sensitive than heating which is the largest use of energy for domestic consumption. I think to install a wood-burning range for cooking and water heating linking it to a thermal store boiler system. This system not only allows the benefits of both combi and conventional boiler systems but also allows multiple inputs, so solar, wind, veg oil heat sources can also feed into it. If I build, I'll use underfloor heating rather than rads and may install a sewage converter. I wish we had a stream here for a water wheel but maybe wind energy. Do you include any eco-systems in your own dwelling? all the best urban

And what inputs power to the crystal batteries? all the best, urban

Interesting! Yes, Urban. I'm wondering why people are so obsessed with intermiitant energy sources like all of those you've mentioned, when our power requirements are 24/7? I'm in the process of converting all of my appliances over to twelve volts so I can run them off converted Lead Acid Batteries. Converted to be charged fully, deeply & extremely fast - as well as properly charged & discharged so that they last "forever" ("forever" hasn't conclusively been proven, but the original has been running since the mid-seventies with no signs of deteriorating). Said batteries are charged by my over-unity chargers, of which I've built two-&-a-bit with proper load tests done over a period of years, so I can prove "the impossible" over-unity (more output than input over time). Said Chargers are run by high impedance crystal batteries which supply power 24/7 & never run out. They only need a drop of distilled water every day. If they don't get it, they won't output much power, but will still last "forever".

Here living in the countryside is more expensive than town living. English people aspire to live out of town all the best, urban

Bath all the best, urban

Wow I've never heard that;) Oh it occured to me that one of my classmates just got offers from Bath and Leeds, where she is to study Human Resources. Which university will you prefer if you were her? Thanks you;)

Tree house would be great but might have trouble getting it through planning and building control all the best, urban

Here in the states there are building codes in a lot of states just for Tree Houses...They are really cool...There are specific types of trees that can be used and many interesting plumbing regs, but it is doable almost everywhere!

"...but it is doable almost everywhere!" Except where there are no trees! I'll have to read up on those regs all the best, urban

And I think there's a problem with humidity and condensation in basements, isn't there?

Sewage waste water can be disposed of in the normal way, though a pump and macerator may be required, depending on land fall. And humidity can be relieved by forced ventilation all the best

Mmmmm morlock all the best, urban

Well you can have ventilation systems and light wells and solar tunnels all the best, urban