Wednesday, February 7, 1979
3
Underground houses await OK
By BRUCE THOMAS
Staff Renamed
The cost of heating is driving people under and Ken Shen wants to be one of them.
Sloan, who lives in Eudora, is waiting for the Douglas County Commission to approve underground houses so he can start building his.
One Illinois firm that builds underground houses, U'Bahn Earth Homes, said underground houses could save 75 percent of energy and cost a conventional house of comparable size.
Slaan said, "I think they'll approve the underground houses in one form or another. I'm patient. I waited this long and I can wait another couple of months."
On Jan. 24 the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission voted 6-3 to send a proposal to allow underground houses in the county back to special committee for more study.
THE COUNTY must await a recommendation by the planning commission to include the following details:
Linda Finger, staff member for the planning commission, said recently that some of the commissioners did not think it was appropriate to assume unless, as the proposal suggested, they
regulated all houses. The county does not have a building code for houses.
Slaan said a building code for underground houses was not necessary because bankers would insure that the houses were well built. Bankers would not approve loans for badly constructed houses, so they would not be resold if the homeowner defaulted.
"This will take care of the need for a building code," he said. "In effect, the county is trying to protect those people who live in it and themselves, and that's never going to work."
SLOAN DREW the plans for his underground house and he also plans to do most of the construction. Besides building a basement, he builds barns on the farm where he grew up.
The plans for his underground house include a greenhouse, three bedrooms, a library, living room, recreation room, crafts room and dining room.
The only outside wall not covered with dirt will face south. His greenhouse will be
"I began thinking about building an underground house when we moved into this house for four years ago," he said. "One of the first things that happened before was the effect the wind has in cooling
your house in the winter. Underground houses let you get out of the wind.
"No matter how much insulation you have, you're always fighting a 20-degree temperature in the winter that you have to bring up to 70 degrees in your house.
"Underground houses start with an outside temperature between 50 and 55 degrees. This is the soil temperature and it stays the same through the winter. You simply have to bring the temperature of your house up about 15 degrees."
SAFETY AND aesthetic were two
concerns for wanting to build an
underground house
He said underground dwellers did not have to worry about being sucked into a cave.
"I'm a utilitarian. If a piece of furniture is beautiful and also has a use then I think it 'doubly beautiful.' Sloan said. "Underground houses are most aesthetically pleasing to me because not only do they look nice, but more functional than conventional house."
The biggest problem the underground builder must solve are waterproofing and sealant problems.
Sloan said he solved the problem of the lack of natural light by placing the light source on a wall.
City tries to save historic barn
The Lawrence City Commission last night voted to encourage developers to delay demolition of Grover's Barn, a stone bridge that was a stop on the underground railroad.
University Dally Kansan
Barkley Clark, a city commissioner, suggested that plans for the barn's 11-acre site at 23rd Street and Lawrence Avenue be revised to delay the barn's destruction. Under current plans, the 121-year-old barn sits in the nath of a road.
"Maybe someone could renovate it as an office or a combination office and home."
"We're talking about buying time." Clark said. "If nothing works out, we could return to work."
Clark suggested that the site's residential zoning, which commissioners approved earlier this year, be changed to residential-office zoning.
Clark said an alternative plan would allow roads to go on either side of the barn and a farmhouse across from it.
SLOAN SAID he planned to ventilate the house with a pipe running outside and inside.
Marrie Argersinger, another city commissioner, said she thought the idea was "great" and needed more work.
BY SHIBLEY SHOUP
He said he could adequately waterproof the house with techniques used on other underground houses, including a rubberizing treatment.
Staff Reporter
professor of history and president of the KU chapter of AAPU, Friedman's talk will concern current problems in higher education.
Slaan said anyone with a strong enough desire could build a house.
could shine into his house in the winter. The greenhouse and windows in each bedroom are light and bright.
Friedman will spend the day on campus Thursday, meeting with members of the Unclassified Women's Affirmative Action Advisory Group, campus librarians and administrators. She also will have lunch with the students from the local AAUP chapter and will tour Watson and Spencer Research libraries.
"There is a lot of information for any one who wants to learn and is willing to take the course."
enough parking in the area for an office or whether an office would be compatible with your home.
Clark said the developers, led by Glen Kappeler, are *unanimous* in their decision.
Donald Bims, mayor, said a historical society should be encouraged to find someone to remove the harm, which was caused by his own actions. He praised former KL sculptor-in-residence
Martha Friedman, national president of the American Association of University Professors, will be the guest speaker at an all-faculty dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union.
The commissioners decided to send a letter to Kappeln indicating their endorsement.
Friedman, the history and philosophy librarian at the University of Illinois, will give a speech open to the public entitled "The Unfortunate Women" following the dinner at 7:30 p.m.
In other business, the commission delayed final action that would define "school building" in an ordinance to mean elementary or secondary schools.
AAUP's national president to tour and speak at KU
The ordinance came into question recently when Haskell Indian Junior College officials questioned the closeness of a tavern to the school.
According to Ambrose Saricks.
Wednesday, February 7
German Night:
NOSFERATU
(1922)
Dir. F. W. Murray Maxwell SCHrank.
The first filmed version of "Dracula."
—plus
GHOSTS BEFORE BREAKFAST. Dir. Herman Hesse; IRVIN URICH IURELL. Dir. Eno Metzenner; and A MAN NAMED ZIJELGER. Dir. Stephen Lerner (Based on a Hermann Hesse story, made by Atménger Foundation in Topeka.)
films sua
He said the distance was through backwards and across alleys.
"There has never been any problem there," he said.
Brent McFall, an assistant to the city manager, said a tavern in North Lawrence, The Fort, 500 Locust, was within 408 feet of elementary school, Woodland School, 508 Elm.
The ordinance says that no tavern can operate within 400 feet of a school building.
Dir. Steven Spiebling; with Richard Dreyluss, Mélissa Dillon, Francois Truffault, Terrari Garr, Cary Guffey, Rory Burrell, Doug Truphall, *umb13*. 7:30-9:00, 7:45-8
our all suggested that the distance be measured along the street or sidewalk. The length of a wall is measured by
Friday & Saturday,
February 9 & 10
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
OF THE THIRD KIND
Sign up to volunteer on Volunteer Action Days:
Weekend shows also in Woodruff at 3:30, 7:00, 9:30 or 12 midnight unless otherwise noted.
Dir. Rea Walsh Walt, with James Cagnes,
Mary Edmond, Augustine Moynihan,
Gregory Gleaves, a psychopathic killer who
wants "on top of the world," mar-
keting.
All films M-R shown in Woodruff Aud. at 7:30 unless otherwise noted.
(1949)
Tuesday, February 13
WHITE HEAT
Monday, February 12
Women in Feb., part 1:
SPIRIT CATCHER:
THE ART OF BETYE SAAR
Dir. Suzanne Bouman
ANONYMOUS WAS A WOMAN
Dir. Mirra Bank
GEORGIA O'KEEFE
Dir. Perry Miller Adato
All produced in 1977, these are three films on some of the best artists in the United States. Women in Art, part 2, will be shown later this semester.
Wed., Feb. 7
Tables in the Union,
Wescoe and Robinson
TONIGHT IS Pitcher Night AT THE HAWK
Monday, February 12
Volunteer Clearing House
Make the most WANTED List.
Admiral Car Rental
When was the last time
you rented a car for
$5.95 per day
plus mileage
We have a few late model
cars for sale
2340 Alabama
843-2931
20% off Ladies & Men's Down or Fiberfill Coats
30% off
Ladies & Men's Leather Coats
- Western Style Boots from $27.95
- New Shipment of Ladies Fashion Boots In stock
Ladies Denim Fashion Jeans
sale $9.95
"Your Authentic Western Store In Lawrence"
Holiday Plaza • 25th & Iowa • Lawrence, Kansas 842-8413
Student DividendPayment
For Period No. 64
5% Paid to Students on Cash Register Receipts For Period No. 64
(July 1st through Dec. 31, 1978)
Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8th, 1979
Kansas Union Bookstores
Lower Level
KU Student I.D. required at time of payment
We are the only bookstore that shares its profits . . .
Student Dividend Payment Policy
Under the University of Kansas Memorial Union Corporation policy established July 1, 1978, the patronage rebate will be paidonly tobonafiedK.U.students.
MOVIE INFO 841-6418
COMMONWEALTH THEATRES
MOVIE MARQUEE
"the Lord of the Rings"
A NAIL ZAKENZ PRODUCTION
AT THE MASTER'S STUDIO
J. F. MATHERS - THE LORD OF THE RINGS
ROBERT C. SCHUMANN - THE ROCKETS
THE BELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLLAND GAME
PRODUCTION BY NAIL ZAKENZ
DISCOVERY FOR NAIL ZAKENZ
PRESENTED BY:
MARK BLESSEN
BENNY BLANK
BENNETH WILSON
MARC POPE
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Eve 7:30 & 9:45
Sat-Sun Mat 2:30
Varsity PC
"EVERY WHICH
Eve 7:30 & 8:30
Sat/Sun Mat 2:30
WAY BUT LOOSE"
Twin
Eve 7:20 & 9:20
ENDS THURS
"A breakthrough film boasting a number of realistic love scenes. " Pleiy Magazee
In Praise of Older Women
Patronize Kansan Advertisers