Despite the lower heating/cooling costs that earth sheltered homes may have, those savings could be offset somewhat by insurance coverage. In a conversation with my insurance agent the other day, he said he thinks the policy would cost more due to possible roof cave ins, etc, and he has never insured an earth sheltered home after being in the insurance business for almost 30 years. Thought that was interesting.
Along the lines of ESH's, I remembered that my grandmother had a basement home built in the 1950s. Eventually she was able to afford to build a main level on top off it, I think Sussel homes built it. She was a school teacher so she was always frugal. The house still stands today. I don't have any pics now but you get the idea here:
Southwest Denver basement home historic district proposal: Kenny Be's Yard Arteology - Denver - News - The Latest Word
About 3/4's of the way down this link, some more info on a basement house:
Side Streets