Thoughts on earth sheltered or earthship style designs?

I cam across this Solar Pit House design from Owen Geiger, shortly after getting interested in earth bag building, and I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts on this style. Do you think it can stand up to cold weather like the designer suggests?

I also noticed some similarities to earthship designs, and wonder if this plan could be adapted to also have rain water collection.

I would double the posts for a snow load, but I can have 8'-10' of snow on the ground in the winter.   I don't see why water couldn't be collected off of it.  

It is a really interesting structure and, if you build it, I would love to hear about both the build and how you like it afterwards.

Nancy Troutman wrote:I would double the posts for a snow load, but I can have 8'-10' of snow on the ground in the winter.   I don't see why water couldn't be collected off of it.  

It is a really interesting structure and, if you build it, I would love to hear about both the build and how you like it afterwards.

Thanks for the input. I was thinking the roof pitch may need to be increased a bit for snow load as well. I'd also want to add a few solar tubes for more sunlight in the back rooms.

If you increase the pitch, with the increased height you can possible grow bananas or a citrus tree in there that could not grow in colder climates.  

It is an interesting concept along the same lines as earthships, but there are a few details that would render it uncomfortable if built exactly as shown.

The sloped windows are positioned for maximum solar gain in summertime, with no shading mechanism visible, and would bake the occupants out on long sunny days. The floor material does not appear to be specified but is probably concrete, and it would hold some winter solar gain, but not enough to temper the daily swing. The thick mass back wall would never get any direct solar exposure.

Adjust the proportions to fix these issues and I would like to see it built.

If you study the more recent earthship designs you will notice that they have essentially segregated the greenhouse and the living spaces with doors and windows/hallway. I have seen some interesting track doors that are large windows and fold up accordion style which may be nice for this too. Otherwise windows and doors.
Also, I would use in-floor tube solar hydronic heat as well as a rocket mass heater.

I've been toying with a similar idea. But with a split skillion to let light (and solar access/heat) into the rear of the dwelling.

There is no way we've get 6mil plastic approved here. I'd want a epdm rubber liner

We've gone about it a bit differently but we're building an earthbag earthship. More info @ http://sustainablelifeschool.com Click the current projects tab.