Abstract

This thesis is a comparative analysis of the environmental sustainability between two similar square-foot, single-family residential homes constructed as a bermed shelter and the conventional wood frame in the Hudson Valley Region, Beacon, New York. The research will focus on the two designs' embodied carbon, cost, and energy use. To quantify the environmental impact of these two construction methods, an in-depth understanding of the diverse host climate is necessary. Climate data and the results from the experiments are collected by performing life cycle, cost, and energy analysis, providing insights into the environmental implications of residential construction methods. The methodology will include the data collected on the construction materials and methods of the two designs. Regional availability of the materials and practices, along with the life cycle and energy model results, will help determine the environmental footprint. The results from this study will provide a better understanding of the ecological implications of earth-sheltered homes compared to conventional wood frame homes in the Hudson Valley, which will inform optimal sustainable housing construction practices.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Earth construction--Environmental aspects; Wooden-framed houses--Environmental aspects; Sustainable architecture--New York (State)

Publication Date

12-20-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Architecture (M.Arch.)

Department, Program, or Center

Architecture, Department of

College

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Advisor

Julius J. Chiavaroli

Advisor/Committee Member

Dennis A Andrejko

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

ARCH-MARCH

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