Earthships
Earthships are self-sustaining homes designed to provide shelter, food, water, and energy with minimal environmental impact. Developed by architect Michael Reynolds, these structures use recycled and natural materials while incorporating passive solar design.
Six Core Systems
- Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
- Solar and Wind Electricity
- Water Harvesting
- Contained Sewage Treatment
- Food Production
- Building with Natural/Recycled Materials
Construction Elements
- Tire Walls - Rammed earth in recycled tires for thermal mass
- Can and Bottle Walls - Recycled materials for non-load bearing walls
- Greenhouse Space - For temperature regulation and food production
- Water Systems - Collection, filtration, and reuse
- Solar Array - For electrical power generation
Benefits and Considerations
Key aspects of Earthship living:
- Off-grid capability
- Zero carbon footprint
- Waste reduction through material reuse
- Year-round food growing potential
- Resilience during extreme weather
- Building code compliance challenges
