Earth sheltering
（重定向自Earth sheltered home）
![Turf houses in Keldur, Iceland.](/Images/godic/202501/10/Iceland_Keldur_Earth_covered_homes4105.JPG")
![Turf house in Sænautasel, Iceland.](/Images/godic/202501/10/Iceland_Saenautasel_Earth_covered_home_outside4105.JPG")
![Turf house in Sænautasel, Iceland. Inside view showing the turf layers on the walls.](/Images/godic/202501/10/Iceland_Saenautasel_Earth_covered_home_inside4105.JPG")
![Example of an abandoned Icelandic turf house in the region of Búðahraun via earth berming](/Images/godic/202501/10/Cabaña_subterránea_en_la_región_de_Búðahraun,_Vesturland,_Islandia,_2014-08-14,_DD_0464105.JPG")
Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Earth sheltering has become relatively more popular in modern times, especially among environmentalists and advocates of passive solar and sustainable architecture. However, the practice has been around for nearly as long as humans have been constructing their own shelters.