Laserfiche WebLink
I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERIES <br /> <br />ZONING FOR EARTH-SHELTERED BUILDINGS <br /> <br />I INTRODUCTION <br /> <br /> I <br />,I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br />Rising energy prices and concern about possible energy supply disruptions in <br />the future have caused some residential builders, businesses and industries to <br />look for new ways to build energy-efficient structures. Passive solar <br />buildings (buildings heated by direct energy gain without using solar <br />collectors or other mechanical equipment), superinsulated buildings and earth- <br />sheltered structures are examples of energy-efficient structures that are <br />particularly well suited to the climatic extremes of the Twin Cities Region. <br /> <br />Earth-sheltered buildings take <br />advantage of the ability of the <br />ground covering to reduce air <br />infiltration (one of the major <br />causes of heat loss in conven- <br />tional buildings), provide <br />insulation from temperature <br />extremes and function as a heat <br />sink or reservior. Because <br />earth-sheltered buidings can be <br />very energy efficient, the <br />Minnesota Legislature amended <br />municipal and county planning <br /> r~ <br />and zoning enabling acts in <br />1979 to prevent local juris- <br />dictions from prohibiting earth- <br />sheltered construction in their <br />zoning ordinances. <br /> <br />This planing brief provides a <br />short overview of earth-sheltered <br /> <br />Seward West earth-sheltered townhouses in Minneapolis <br />(space heating costs averaged less than $100 per unit <br />for the 1981-82 heating season). <br /> <br />buildings, summarizes their unique .advantages and disadvantages, and d~scusses <br />related zoning legislation and how it affects local jurisdictions. This brief <br />is not intended to answer all questions about zoning for earth-sheltered <br />buildings, nor does it provide model ordinance language. Such detailed answers <br />and models are contained in a new publication soon to be published by the <br />Energy Division of the Minnesota Department of Energy, Planning and Develop- <br />ment. The publication, entitled Zonin9 for Earth Sheltered Buildings: A Guide <br />for Minnesota Communities, will be available free of charge from the follow'in~ <br />address: Energy Division, Department of Energy, Planning and Development, 980 <br />American Center Building, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />