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I can't see earth shelters being efficient in any but the hottest regions of the U.S.
The temperature just below the top surface of the soil is lower than comfortable room temperature in nearly all places, and the dirt represents a virtually unlimited heat sink.
So, building into the earth would require plenty of insulation to prevent heat from conducting away. This brings us back to the same problem of conventional houses, except they have more than dirt for a view.
As far as tornado protection goes, earth shelters would almost certainly hold up better. A more likely problem for most people would be water infiltration and mold. Radon might have to be actively managed, too.
So if one lived in an area that had an average temperature around 70 degrees and didn't have to worry about water infiltration, an earth shelter would probably make a lot of sense.
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