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Comment by swozey | Hacker News Reader

I was just reading that Bill Gates' house is "Earth-sheltered" -- not sure how common that is, though, I live in the desert.

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I live in the desert as well. I'd love to have a house with better insulation to spend less on AC. Earth sheltered homes seems like a great way to do that (though there are other problems - e.g. moisture, heavier roof).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0oFJ2jbkDI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oej6EvxBJkI - here's a couple examples (she has visited others as well.

Short of that I'd settle for a basement. Someday perhaps.

> not sure how common that is, though, I live in the desert.

Google "Rockland Ranch".

he lives on the side of a cliff overlooking a lake

Right, but his house is built into the cliff specifically to help with thermo/electricity costs. At least according to what I read. Interestingly enough his house is worth something like $150MM and his neighbors are $8M. If you Google map him (boring weekend) the person directly across from him has a fairly normal house with very normal cars (old 4runners, etc.).

Evidently he bought that land in 1988.

The most interesting part of google mapping it was his curious gate. He's got a really weirdly designed entry gate. Couldn't find any info on it, though. My friends usually have their initials or their "crest" as gates.

i went by it in 01 on a boat. there was. an incognito security guard on a wind surf rig out front. he was just sitting on the board with the sail in the water. amusing.

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