QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: How are earthships built?

A: (Kelly) Earthships are typically built with various recycled materials (such as tires and aluminum cans), earthen plasters, large wood beams, and lots of glass for south-facing windows.

What are the first steps to take before building one?

To build a true Earthship, it is probably best to obtain plans from the original designer, Michael Reynolds.

Are there certain rules/regulations/permits needed?

This depends on the regulations in the particular place where it is to be built. Earthships are well-designed, and usually can be built with the proper permits.

Approximately, how long is the process to build one?

This can vary quite a bit, depending on how many people are working, how much time they have to devote to the project, and how much experience they might have in construction.

Do professionals need to build it, or can anyone build it?

Many Earthships have been built by owner/builders, but it is best to have some construction experience before embarking on such a project.

Would you happen to have an idea of approximately how much energy is spent in an earthship compared to a normal single family house?

One of the attractions of Earthships is they they can be practically self-sufficient, energy-wise. So if this is true, they could be considerably more efficient than conventional houses.

What are the cons to earthships?

One of the biggest cons is that the labor involved in pounding soil into the tires for the walls is extremely intensive, very tiring and time consuming. Also many of the Earthships, especially the earlier designs with slanting glass, tend to overheat in warm weather. And they may take a year or two of use before they become comfortably warm enough in the cold season. Also, many people don't like the idea of living in used tires...

How difficult is it to live in one, or to adjust from living in a single family home to this unique structure and energy saving home?

Well, I don't live in one, but I have lived in well-designed passive solar homes before. It is not difficult to live in one, but it does take some attention to making adjustments to window shades to conserve heat at night, and adjust vents for proper ventilation. The general comfort level is very nice, in that they tend to stay a comfortable temperature most of the time, without suffering great fluctuation between too hot or too cold.

Q: What are some of the main materials used in the process of building an Earthship? I am wondering this because I was thinking of building a model of an Earthship as part of my display.

A: (Kelly) Used tires filled with packed soil are used for most of the walls. Some of the interior walls are made with aluminum cans and concrete. Big wooden beams are used to hold up the roof, and other wood is used to finish the roof and frame all of the windows.  The tire walls are often covered with a mud plaster, so you could make a realistic model by just piling up mud (with plenty of clay in it) and letting it dry.

What is the average price of an Earthship; plus the most expensive Earthship there is on the market and the cheapest one?

Earthships cost anywhere from about $50,000 to several million dollars, depending on how big and lavish they might be. Average might be $150,000.

How long does it take to build a Earthship? Does it take longer than a regular house to build?

It probably takes a little longer than an average house, because of all the time it takes to pound dirt into the tires and then plaster them.

What are the main jobs of the people in the process of constructing an Earthship?

People need to build the tire walls and pound them full of dirt and then plaster them. Carpenters need to build the roof and frame all of the windows and vents. Plumbers and electricians need to install of these facilities. There is lots to do.

Q: I watched a show about 2 years ago & you guys were on there. I have been in love ever since. Some day I hope to have an earth ship. Everyone I have told thinks I am crazy & that it is a silly idea for a home. I strongly disagree. My husband gives me a hard time, but if we were able to have one, I know he'd love it. After all this time w/ just keeping "Michael Reynolds earthship" on a scratch piece of paper, it crossed my mind to see if there was anything on the web. I am so pleased to see all the information. However, the one question I do have is, is what is the typical cost of one of these earth friendly homes?? I'd like to have some idea. That is another reason why everyone thinks I am so crazy, because they say that one of these so called homes will be more than I could probably ever afford. So, just for giggles, I'd like to know the price range. My husband & I just weeks ago found out that we qualify for a $70k loan. I'm sure that is not even close to ya'lls cost. But, maybe when we think about a new home in the future...we might be able to give this earth ship a go. I can't express to you just how impressed I am w/ this earthship idea. How blessed you must feel. How awesome.

A: They cost about the same as conventional housing – as with conventional housing, there are cheap generic approaches and more expensive custom approaches – They range from $120 per sf and up. The main difference is that you have no utility bills in this kind of home - I suggest they look at...Earthship/Biotecture and click on Packaged Earthship for the most economical models.

Q: There is a vacant earthship in Texas. Apparently, there were some structural problems with the tire construction. I've been looking at this home trying to decide if I want to buy it or build my own. I've considered strawbale and earthbag homes. What is your opinion of the earthships?

A: (Kelly) Earthships come in all flavors and degrees of sophistication; I've seen near hovels and grand palaces. The basic concept of the earthship is the same as any other passive solar home: lots of south-facing glass, thermal mass, and earth-bermed north side. The earlier earthship designs utilizing slanted glass tend to over-heat in many climates. In general they are quite energy efficient, and often employ water saving technology (rainwater catchment and gray water reuse). If they have been well built, they can be excellent homes. The earth in the tires has to be very compacted with lots of pounding to make them stable, so if this earthship has structural problems with the tire walls, then this might be the problem, and mitigating against this might not be very easy. I would suggest you get the advise of a competent engineer who knows about earthship design to take a look at it before you purchase.

Q: I am very interested in the earthship concept. My question is whether I live in an area (Austin, TX) that will support an earthship. I read in one of your books that in a hot humid climate, the greenhouse area should be facing north. Here is a link to information about the climate in Austin. http://austin.about.com/cs/localstatistics/l/blweather.htm. Is building an earthship practical here? If so do you know of any more books that might discuss the specifics of building an earthship in this climate.

A: Perhaps the following can help you understand the Earthship concept more and how to proceed with it...The concept of thermal mass housing works both to cool and heat. Natural dehumidification is also available. The buildings can be adapted to whatever extreme necessary for more performance in cooling, heating and/or dehumidification. We have a new book called COMFORT IN ANY CLIMATE that fully explains this. More about this book at...www.earthship.com Look under Education. WE ALSO HAVE A NEW KNOWLEDGE BASE. This knowledge base has current projects and much more information relative to specifics of the Earthship concept.

Thermal mass structure can be achieved with many materials - earth rammed tires being the most economical and having the best structural
integrity. However, concrete, stone and adobe work well also as long as the building is "tuned" to your climate. All other aspects of the Earthship concept, the catch water and waste water treatment systems and the solar/wind power systems, are tuned to your climate and your local codes as well. We have the support of New Mexico officials on these systems. We often “dovetail” into existing “on grid” systems for backup. We have many generic points of departure to try and take advantage of what we already have worked out, but usually some customizing is necessary. Any custom amenities are possible and can be integrated into the function of the home. It is simply a matter of "off the rack" designs being cheaper than custom.

While Earthships exist in almost every state and in many countries around the world in virtually every climate habitable; we have been asked repeatedly not to give out names and addresses of Earthship owners. They usually are not into receiving visitors and questions after the initial wave in the beginning. It has become an invasion of their privacy. Earthship is a concept - not limited to tires - it is a building that
will take care of you by interacting with and encountering the biology and physics of the earth. Concrete Earthships are now available in all
"off the rack" designs. They are just more expensive than earth rammed tires. Earthship homes will work in any climate. One first step is to confirm if the earth rammed tire building method will pass codes in your area. We can help with this as well. There are a few places that it is more trouble than it is worth to get the earth rammed tire method through codes. In this case you must use concrete, adobe or block to achieve the same design – our services involve all methods of creating the thermal mass building.

BALLPARK COSTS ARE AS FOLLOWS...30% LABOR 30% MATERIALS 18% SYSTEMS 12% SUBCONTRACTORS 10% PROFIT. BASE THE ABOVE ON ABOUT $135 PER SF FOR THE PACKAGED EARTHSHIP AND $150 FOR THE MODULAR AND MORE FOR THE CUSTOM. TAKE OFF PROFIT AND LABOR IF YOU BUILD IT YOURSELF. YOU WILL FIND THESE COSTS TO BE SIMILAR TO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION - BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THESE HOMES HAVE LITTLE OR NO UTILITY BILL SO THE OVERALL MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSE (mortgage payment plus utility bills) IS LESS IN AN EARTHSHIP - NOT TO MENTION THE SECURITY OF HAVING YOUR OWN UTILITIES.

We can guide you in your efforts to obtain a sustainable home. We can provide a design and detailed construction drawings aimed at
owner/builders.We have a private viewing site on the web where we post designs for your project for immediate viewing. We send them in hard copy as well. We can help you obtain local builders and permits. We can provide experts on site if and when needed. We have nightly rental demonstration homes in Taos, New Mexico. CALL 505 751 0462 FOR BOOKING. We do owner/builder seminars through out the spring, summer and fall - ask for a schedule at 505 751 0462. We have recently been doing 200 square foot Thermal/Solar Room demonstration projects around the world. These projects take eight days and accommodate a local seminar as well - ask for more information on these if you are interested. You can order a video of one of these demo projects on line at...earthship.com
or call 505 751 0462.

This is not a rigid thing - it is a concept that we help you apply to your specific situation. COMFORT AND "MINIMAL-TO-NO" PUBLIC UTILITY USE IN ALL CLIMATES IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONCEPT. We take a $75 retainer to schedule a phone consultation with you to begin. In this phone consultation we collect information from you and establish some ball park figures on cost of design, construction drawings and building costs relative to your specific needs, site and climate. We then work up the design. Next we provide the detailed construction drawings and help you get local permitting. We also consult and/or participate in the construction and supervision using local builders and subcontractors as much as possible. If you would like to proceed to the next step in obtaining a home based on the Earthship concept, please schedule a phone consultation by calling 505 751 0462 and make a $75 deposit by credit card. During the half hour consultation, you can provide us with where you want to build, a list of spaces you want, any site information you have, your budget limitations, the level at which (or if) you plan to participate in the project. We will also ask for winter low temperature and summer high temperature and elevation above sea level.

We have thirty years of experience at helping people get into sustainable homes all over the world. We know how to make it easy, safe and step by step. We are building a new demonstration web site at ...earthshipbiotecture.com Here, there is a gallery and other information. Please check it out. Thank you for your interest in Earthships.

Q: I want to level out my garden and for this I need to build a 2 meter high retaining wall. I would like to use car tyres for this but I'm not sure how they would need to be put together, whether concreting is necessary and also whether I would need to dig foundations.

A: (Kelly) A tire retaining wall should not need a foundation beyond just the tires sitting on the ground. Such walls are usually made by filling the tires with soil that is packed (or pounded) very firmly into the tires, so they end up being very firm and quite heavy. The work is done in courses, with each successive course overlapping the first, like bricks are laid. If the wall is curved it will be much stronger and more likely to withstand the lateral forces of the berm. Tires are not usually connected to each other, except through friction and weight. For a more aesthetically pleasing wall, the tires can be plastered with earthen or cement plaster, which also helps bind the wall into a monolithic whole.

Q: I am considering building a small Earthship "survival pod". This plan requires a large earth cliff for most of the wall space. I would like to use earthbags for the above grade courses and a living roof. I would like your opinion on the earthcliff (and other aspects) and its feasibility. Also, do you think the walls could take berming?

A: (Kelly) The way I understand the "earthcliff" concept is that the wall has no retainer, such as the tires normally used in earthships. If this is so, I would not recommend doing that where the soil is at all loose, or where moisture entering the building could be an issue (which is most places). My suggestion would be to use earthbags for the whole bermed portion of the building (below and above grade), because they are easy to handle and easy to plaster and can be filled with scoria, which would give you an insulated wall. A curved earthbag wall, similar to most earthship designs can take considerable berming.

Q: In my Environmental Communications class we were suppose to pick a form of visual art, mine being architecture, and an artist, mine being Michael Reynolds. There are many parts to this paper and the part I’m having trouble with is writing a biography on Michael Reynolds. I also need a little bit of history on earth ships such as when the first earthship was built, what inspired it, things of that nature. If you can help me out with any information on how to obtain this information please e-mail me as soon as possible.

A: (David Knapp) This was the first earthship built in 1989, I think there is a Quicktime version of the video for MAC users located here: http://www.telluride.com/sunridge/. If you don't have a high speed connection this will take some time to download: http://www.telluride.com/sunridge/SunridgeSequence.wmv Michael Reynolds spends almost no time on-line, most of his time is devoted to working on job sites throughout the world or consulting with customers. His web site is maintained by his son Jonah Reynolds.

Q: I am interested in using recycled tires to complete a retainer wall. Any information that you can present me with to help in the construction of the project would be greatly appreciated.

A: (Kelly) Mike Reynolds has pioneered the use of tires for building "Earthships" and has written several books on the topic. Also this book might have useful information for you: The Tire House Book by Ed Paschich, Paula Hendricks, 1995. Both of these are listed above. The concept is very simple; just packing similar tires with earth and then stacking them like bricks to build the wall...then it can be plastered with earthen materials or stucco to make a uniform surface.

Q: I have been interested in earthships for some time now but am still having trouble finding easy to understand information about building them. I am not interested in building it myself. Are there companies or organizations that you can hire to build your earthship? Also, is it possible or even wise to build an earthship in Oklahoma? I am currently living in Birmingham, Alabama, but am planning on moving back to my hometown in Oklahoma in the next year or so. I would love to build or buy an earthship there when I return, but am unclear if the climate and weather would be suitable there.

A: We can help arrange the building of an earthship, and Oklahoma is a good place to do this.

Q: How much does it cost to build the packaged earthship from your plans? I am in the country outside Eugene Oregon currently living in a passive solar house with composting toilet, gray water system, propane fireplace and propane hot tub, garden/orchard, meadow with waterfalls, the entire lot is surrounded by trees. It is not off the grid by any means though, so I am interested in the packaged earthship. Would you require more information to answer this question?

A: If you build it yourself - about $75 per sf. If you have it built - about $155 per sf.

Q: I am very excited by the idea of building an earthship from stone. Could you give me some advice about insulation and waterproofing.

A: (Kelly) The shell of a traditional Earthship is made from earth-packed tires, as you probably know. This is primarily a thermal mass material, as is stone, so the packed tires could be replaced effectively with stone. The tire wall is entirely backfilled with soil in such a way that there is a waterproof rigid curtain of insulation surrounding the backfill. See the cross section illustration for more clarity about this.

Q: I'm an architecture student and I am about to start an important 3rd year project and I would like to use the earthship concept. I was wondering if they are suitable for hot humid climates (eg: Sarasota, Florida)? If so, could you indicate some sites, or books where I could read about it and methods of construction in these conditions.

A (Kelly): The conventional earthship is a highly passive solar design and would overheat in Florida without modification. The designer of earthships, Michael Reynolds, has written a book called Comfort in Any Climate, listed at earthships that might help with your study.

Q: I have a dream to build earthship type houses in the world. My son is co owner of 3 tire stores. He will truck the tires locally to the site. He has to spend over $10,000 a year to have the tires hauled away. When we can pull all these elements together, get some land, build the house, have a prototype to show people. This area missed Katrina winds by a miracle; these homes withstand 150MPH winds. Perhaps show them as a backyard hurricane shelter also? If you have some cohesive ideas I would welcome the feedback.

A (Kelly): Tire houses can certainly be made to withstand tremendous wind and other rigors of nature. And the designs of the Earthship people are quite innovative and utilize many sustainable technologies. One word of caution about stockpiling tires: one reason that it costs so much to get rid of them is that they can become an environmental liability, since they do not biodegrade, might be considered a visual blight, and there may be health concerns related to the mosquitoes they can harbor. So it is best to only accumulate enough for the project at hand, and not keep a lot of them in piles for very long.

Q: OK, so I have been looking at building with tires for about 15 years now and am in the position to build in a couple of years, but time is an issue for me (getting ready to start my doctorial program and work as a teacher full-time). So here is my idea I have developed with my partner. Instead of ramming the tires with dirt why not fill them with papercrete? We can used recycled newspaper and portland cement. The issues we have come up with could be not being able to get the tires totally filled unless we drilled holes in the top of them. Do you feel like this would be an alternative to the labor intensity of a traditional earthship?

A: (Kelly) I don't think that filling the tires with papercrete would be a good idea, for several reasons: 1) Papercrete must be able to drain excess water freely in order to cure properly, and being placed into a tire would not allow it to dry out or cure. 2) Tire houses require densely packed tires in order to support the weight of the structure and be heavy enough to make the wall solid, so even if you were able to get the papercrete to cure in tires, it would likely be too spongy to suit this need. 3) It is actually a lot of work to make a papercrete mixer and then make the papercrete and fill the tires with it...so you probably wouldn't be saving any time or expense. Here is another idea for more easily filling the tires, and perhaps making a better insulated home: you might experiment with filling the tires with either crushed volcanic rock (scoria), if available, as it is quite insulating and would be fairly easy to pour into the tires....or even a loose gravel might work.

Q: I am a disabled vet. and I want to build a home myself with very little help. I am considering an above ground home, similar to an adobe home, only the walls are made of concrete filled tires. I can't pound dirt and can't afford to hire it done. Does this sound reasonable and feasible? I plan on using as much recycled material as possible in the home. I plan on making my home completely off the grid. This seems like a building built to last. Do you know of any homes built like this. Also, do you know of a spray on material that is breathable like adobe mud for the exterior?

A: (Kelly) Certainly tires filled with concrete would last a very long time. I have actually thought that filling the tires with washed gravel might be easier and yield a better-insulated wall. As for breathability, this would only occur in the minor spaces between the tires. A cement stucco that is somewhat weak in the ratio of cement to the sand can breath some, although not as much as an earthen plaster would. It is possible to spray either of  these.

Q: My wife and I are finally in a place where we my be able to build a home for ourselves. We have a friend who has been singing the praises of earthships and my initial investigations make them seen super hippy cool. The concern I have is that I live in the Pacific NW and I am not sure if it is a green home that will work here. Has anyone built an earthship in our area? We are on the wet side of the mountains. Is there another green home that has the same type of low impact pro environment outlook that is more suitable to the area? Lastly, do the tires in an earthship poison the surrounding land with heavy metals and stinky tireness.

A: (Kelly) Earthships should actually perform quite well in the Pacific Northwest. Even though you don't get as much sunshine as the SouthWest, what sun you do get will help heat the home...and all of those windows will help bring more light into the house, which can be a problem there. Some people don't like the idea of all those tires around them but they actually don't have any heavy metals that I know of, and they get well sealed with plaster so they don't smell either. Another option would be to build the same design with earthbags, which may be aesthetically more pleasing for you.

Q: Since one of the drawbacks to using the earth for insulation is the finished look of a house I was wondering if anyone has ever thought of the possibility of building a multi-layered wall with 2 or more layers of tires (in the vertical) to take the place of a big berm. Then you could get a more conventional look, although it would be a lot more work, to satisfy the square house lovers. Would this work?

(Kelly) Do you mean that the wall would be composed of two parallel stacks of tires with earth placed between them?

Exactly, and could you connect the tires together for added strength?

A: Yes, tying them together (galvanized wire would likely do) would help stabilize the wall...curved walls would also help with this. To make it easier to fill the tires without pounding them like the earthship people do, I have often thought that using gravel instead of earth would make it easier and give you a bit of extra insulation from having all the air space between the gravel.

Q: I will have to convince my wife about green homes and earthships, as I like the idea but she considers this type of building to be too dungeon-like as she likes a lot of light.  We are going to the big island of Hawaii next month and I think there is a relatively new earthship there I wish to show her.  How do most municipalities feel about this type of construction?  I know realtors (valley girl businessmen) frown on it unless they are about to make a big commission.

A: (Kelly) I'm sure that reaction to earthships varies quite a bit around the country. In the Southwest they have become quite common, and many of them are even lavish, up-scale affairs. They are well-engineered, so there is seldom much real concern about their integrity from the building authorities.

Q: I have a question about vapor barriers. Does the bermed wall need any barrier other than the rigid insulation? Do people build stick framed walls in front of the tire walls?

A: (Kelly) Yes, it is is always a good idea to have a solid membrane moisture or vapor barrier on any bermed portion of a building, because the last thing you want is water in the house. As far as framing in front of the tire wall, I would not advise it, because you want the tire wall to act as thermal mass, and this would inhibit this.

Q: I'm assuming 6 mil. plastic, but is it applied on the back side of the tires before the berm is pushed up against the tires?

A: (Kelly) Yes, one or two layers of 6 mil plastic should suffice. Looking at the cross section diagram at the bottom of this page, it would be against the rigid insulation before backfilling.

Q: I'm wanting to know how to build a stable base for my shed, using reclaimed tyres. I was wondering if I can use landfill waste to fill them? I am dependant on state benefits so really need to use anything that I can obtain without financial cost. I have just myself and a garden spade to do the job plus my 2 little ones! Can you give me very simple but detailed advise how to do this? I have just soil underneath and am at the present time clearing very old brambles from the area.

A: (Kelly) You can certainly use old tyres to provide a foundation for a shed, but this method tends to be a lot of work because they must be filled with compacted soil, which means a great deal of pounding with a mallet. Landfill waste would not be an appropriate material to fill them with, because it cannot be guaranteed to remain compacted. A much simpler method of making a foundation is the use a rubble trench, which is basically digging a trench below frost level where you want the foundation to be and filling this with cobbles or rubble. This can be mounded up somewhat to get the building above grade level. Then, depending on the nature of the building itself, you can begin the construction on top of this. Or another simple method is to use earthbags (polypropylene sacks) that can be filled with soil or gravel for a foundation. In fact you can build the whole shed this way. See www.earthbagbuilding.com for more about this...

Q: We have a large family. We need 6 bedrooms and an Office. Have any Earthships been built that large? Is there any reason to think it can't be done. We are planning to build an underground type home in 2009. I like the idea of having indoor gardens and using gray water, well all the energy efficient concepts in the Earthship. Is it possible to have the home built for us here in Oklahoma?

A: (Kelly) The earthship concept is expandable to virtually any size. The traditional earthship is composed of a series of U-shaped rooms, with the top of the U facing south; as many of these can be lined up as you want. It shouldn't be too difficult to have such a home built in Oklahoma.

Q: I am looking into the Earthship for a home. I would also like to build it very large, with extensive green houses to make a living with as a small time vendor of fresh foods. An Eco Farmship. But I want to build it in a place not known for raising beans and corn: Arizona. Any ideas? for the semi retiring?

A: (Kelly) I see no reason why the Earthship concept couldn't be adapted to a huge solar greenhouse, since that is basically what the front is designed for anyway. With more skylights and good ventilation the growing area could be extended as well.

Q: I am a Naval air crewman Medic. I have been deployed for the past 5 years straight. I have seen my share of war and now wish to fall off the grid with my new family. My family's background is construction with a "if you can't build it, we can" kind of attitude. My dream plan is for my house to be built first but then later add houses for my family. I am finishing up my enlistment with roughly 25 grand debt free, so money is an issue for me having a family but there is still in my head no reason I cant do this. My main concern is making it all work as your design shows. In my situation do you think this is do able or should I just save an save up more an more before really going for it ?

A: (Kelly) I would say that if you already  have the land, you can get pretty far into your project for 25 grand. Used tires are free, as are the old pop cans and mud...

Q: I would really like to know what the oldest tire house is and if there has been any testing to see if there are any gases coming off the tires as they get older?

A: Mike Reynolds, the inventor of Earthships, published his first book about them in 1990, so he obviously has been experimenting with the concept of using old tire since at least some time in the 1980's.

According to Mike Shealy, who has a lot of experience building with tires, "The surface of used tires has been subjected to years of exposure to oxygen by high speed rotation in the atmosphere.  This exposure causes a phenomenon called oxidation.  Oxidation 'interlocks' the surface molecules with oxygen and 'out-gassing' (fly-away molecules of synthetic rubber) is considerably limited, if not stopped completely.  It's the new tires that stink/outgas, they just need to “rust” for a while, before they are suitable for use as a building material."

http://www.sisweb.com/referenc/applnote/app-37a.htm  reports on some test done on Volatile Organic Emissions From Automobile Tires. It does seem to be primarily associated with new tires.

And Leonard Jones reports: When a tire bale building is initially enclosed, the tires may be left uncovered for a time. During this period it is possible that occupants may be able to smell the "rubbery" odor of the tires. However, when the walls are completed, they are covered with a 2 - 4 inch thick coating of cement-based plaster. The tires are completely covered and sealed away from the occupied space. It seems very unlikely that any out-gassing would reach the occupied space once the plaster is in place. Any residual odor will slowly but steadily be reduced by continuing ventilation of the enclosed space. This issue has been studied and commented upon extensively by designers, builders, and owners (as well as detractors) of related rammed tire earthship buildings, previously referred to. I have done much reading in this area and I have been unable to find a single case where any human or animal sickness occurred that was attributable to outgassing tires. The use of discarded tires for occupied structures is relatively new compared to other building technologies, and it is possible that long-term problems may arise. However, other outgassing issues inherent in conventional buildings, like the chemicals used in commercial glues, carpets and engineered wood, seem to be at least as serious.

Q: I was wondering if it is the thick walls and the tires that achieve the isolation  and keep a constant temperature, or if you could achieve the same outcome with just a thinner wall in the earth and the south east facing windows?

A: (Kelly) The use of tires is just one way to build a bermed wall; other possibilities include earthbags, stone, concrete, etc. The earthship concept utilizes a large area of soil that is isolated behind the tires to create a Passive Annual Heat Storage area (PAHS), and this same thing can be accomplished with materials other than tires.

Q: Would an Earthship in Louisiana be a crazy idea? I'll soon be building a sanctuary for the blind animals in my rescue org and I'd like to to be as energy-efficient as possible, off-grid if I can do it.

A: (Kelly) Earthships have been built all over the world and in most of the states. In Louisiana you might want to diminish the amount of south-facing windows somewhat to compensate for the generally warmer climate.

Q: I am a Naval air crewman Medic. I have been deployed for the past 5 years straight. I have seen my share of war and now wish to fall off the grid with my new family. I just purchased your book on building your own earthship, next will be systems. My dream plan is for my house to be built first but then later add houses for my family. I am finishing up my enlistment with roughly 25 grand debt free, so money is an issue for me having a family, but there is still in my head no reason I cant do this. I don't plan on this happening overnight; hard work is something I enjoy. My main concern is making it all work as your design shows. I'm to a point of planning and doing, 8 months till I'm out . In my situation do you think this is do able or should I just save up more an more before really going for it ?

A: (Kelly) I would say that if you already  have the land, you can get pretty far into your project for 25 grand. Used tires are free, as are the old pop cans and mud...

Q: I want to know how you'll solve the fire fighting thing? For example, the tire wall, if it caught fire?

A: (Kelly) Houses that employ tire walls almost always apply a thick earthen or cement plaster over the tires, so they are no longer exposed to the atmosphere and are unlikely to burn. The same with strawbales...they have a better fire rating than conventional stick-framed homes.

Q: My friend's father recently passed away and left behind 25 horses. I have a large piece of pasture land that we just finished fencing for them but there is presently no shelter. I have been researching natural building for sometime now and am considering a tire shelter. I have access to as many tires as I need and I have a huge pile of washed gravel right on the site. Do you think that a shelter made of tires with washed gravel in them and some sort of good roof would work for us? I am also wondering if you think we would need to dig a foundation. We are located in Nova Scotia, Canada.

A: (Kelly) I have often thought that filling tires with gravel would be way easier than pounding earth in them, and also provide better insulation. A tire wall can basically serve as its own foundation, especially for a horse barn; any minor frost heaving, if it occurs, shouldn't be a problem. You might dig the first course of tires into the ground a bit, and also provide a rubble trench filled with the gravel to lay the first course on, especially if the soil doesn't drain very well.

Q: (Kelly) I have been reading a lot about earthships and rammed earth tires. For consistency, should walls be constructed with equal sized tires, i.e. 15" tire wall as opposed to a mix of 13, 14, 15, 16's etc?

A: Yes, it is way easier to stack and arrange tires of equal size, the wall will be stronger, and it will be easier to plaster.

Q: I am a disabled vet who has worked as an Architectural/ Mechanical Designer/Draftsman for most of the past 30 years. Now that I am retired I plan to build and Earthship here in Oregon. Since I am physically unable to pound the earth into the tires I was thinking of inventing a machine(s) to do the job. I am also considering powering these machines with a portable steam generator or some other "green" power source. My questions are first, what do you think of my idea of creating such machines.

A: (Kelly) Pounding tires for earthships is a notoriously difficult job, so I'm sure that some people would consider such a machine a blessing, but I question whether it is worth the trouble to devise it, for several reasons. You would likely expend more energy fabricating and perfecting the machine than actually pounding the tires conventionally (or hiring some young buck to do it). There are easier ways to build an earthship-inspired home than by using tires (such as with earthbags).

Second do you think such machines would be marketable in plan or actual form?

No. I think the market is too specialized, and many of the folks who want to build an earthship would rather do the job manually.

Have you or anybody else devised such a device that you are aware of?

No. I think that people have attempted the used of air hammers to do this, but probably not very effectively.

Q: I am interested in sustainability and know that I need to live near the North Atlantic Ocean. How would an Earthship fare in Nor'easter or Hurricane in every category? I am an artist, writer and Master Gardener and immersion in seacoast nature is germane to my survival.

A: (Kelly) Earthships are very ruggedly built and bermed with earth, so they should be able to withstand most adverse weather. The greatest vulnerability would be the exposed south-facing glass, so some shutters might be employed to protect this in case of extreme weather.

Q: Why is the cost so much?

A: (Kelly) Besides the tires and other recycled components, Earthships have many conventional (and expensive) parts, like the roof, floor, windows, doors, plumbing, electrical, etc.

Is the outer just a normal concrete or more an outdoor plaster?

The exterior plaster could be cement stucco, or a cement-stabilized earthen plaster.

Q: I am from Romania and am very impressed with using tires in construction. That's why I decided to build my fence from tires, and I need a little help from you. I need to know what kind of earth is needed to fill the tires?

A: (Kelly) The kind of earth to fill the tires doesn't matter much...the local soil is probably fine.

How do you fill up the space that remains between the first row of tires and the new tire that comes on the row?

This space can be filled up with tin cans, rocks, bits of concrete, etc. mixed with either moist clay/sand or cement.

Do I need a foundation; how deep and of what material?

The tires can act as their own foundation...just start them below your frost level.

The rain won't be a problem?

Shouldn't be...

So each tire is isolated from the others? With what? Is there a special way to do it, or do you just take some kind of material, put it on the bottom of the tire, and you start pounding the earth?

The tires are laid like bricks, with the top tire spanning two tires beneath it., and all of the tires touching each other.  For stability, the tires need to be pounded full with earth to make them not move at all. All of the spaces between the tires can be filled with the various materials to make a smooth wall (or fence).

Q: Is it possible to use the earthship building in a climate like the one in Mobile, Ala?

A: (Kelly) Earthships can be built anywhere, but in warmer climates like Alabama, you might want to limit the amount of south-facing glass to some extent.

Q: With the earthship having a slab floor and being surrounded 75% with dirt, are bugs a big problem?

A: (Kelly) I have never heard of bugs being a problem in Earthships. When I lived in an earthen house with a flagstone and adobe floor I never had bug problems. Any house can have problems with ants, but these can be dealt with in many ways.

Q: Does an earthship home require more maintenance than a traditional home? My wife and I both work and do not want to spend our spare time doing upkeep.

A: (Kelly) I wouldn't expect a well-built Earthship to require any more maintenance than a conventional house. With any passive solar house, you might spend some time using insulating curtains for the windows, especially in cold weather, but this is part of the fun of living with natural energy to heat your home.

Q: Would you know, who and how I can get an Earthship made in the mountains of Panama?

A: (Kelly) Earthships are typically designed for cooler climates than you will find in Panama. You could still build one there, but the whole orientation and solar glass exposure would have to be carefully considered. You might query the Earthship organization about this: http://www.earthship.net/web/

Q: I am wondering if it would work to simply fill the tires in an Earthship design with mud, concrete, or a mud / pebble mix instead of pounding dirt into them?

A: (Kelly) The problem with mud is that it may never dry out, but filling the tires with gravel I think would be a good option. This would provide a slight insulating factor as compared to packed earth, but in some ways this could be beneficial, allowing the space to come up to a livable temperature sooner than it would otherwise, especially if there is sufficient thermal mass in the floors and plaster to compensate.

Q: I am planning to build an Earthship in the future with my husband and I was curious, what size tires are the best?

A: (Kelly) Virtually any of the standard automobile tires will work, but I suggest that you choose one of the most common sizes since it really helps if all of the tires are the same size.

Q: I am thinking of building an earthship, but I want to know if I could build it underground and have he roof be level with the top soil?

A: The traditional earthship is basically as you describe this, being bermed on all three sides except  to the south.

Would I have to use southfacing skylights?

Earthships do have openable roof vents, so you would need to provide for this, but virtually all of the natural light comes from the southern glass.

Could I build an underground Greenhouse with the same plans for a sustainable garden?

Yes, there are various plans for underground greenhouses, and the traditional earthship incorporates some greenhouse space near the glass.

Q: I was wondering if you happened to know which states had the most earthships, and if they were absolutely illegal (or ill advised) in certain areas.

A: (Kelly) There are undoubtedly more Earthships in New Mexico because that is where they were born and have thrived over the years. They are not strictly illegal anywhere that I know, although it may be hard to get a building permit in some jurisdictions that are not open to alternative construction. Earthships do well in many climate regions, but are better suited to cooler areas than hotter areas, since they are basically a classic passive solar design.

Q: I live in northern Michigan were the winters are harsh, long, and extremely cold. I have been very interested in the earthship concept. I would love to get more information on how to do it in the extreme cold climates.

A: (Kelly) Earthships would do well in your climate, and so would most well-designed passive solar homes. Going underground is another excellent choice. You can read more about all of these on this website.

Q: I'm just getting interested in the method of building with tires up here in Alaska. I've networked to get tires delivered and even get paid $50 a ton to accept them. I've watched a lot of what is available on the web in regards to tire building, and I notice that there isn't much linking the tires together as they are built. There are the metal bands lining the inner walls and laid offset to the next row this leaves 4 vantage points where those rings will over lap the lower (and 4 more to the top on the bottom of the next row).I plan to drill a hole through both rings and use a blind rivet trifold type to band these metal rings together. It makes sense to me that binding the metal imbedded in the rubber makes a type of 3D chain link fence. Also being that it is Alaska we are after super R ratings so we plan to go double tire thick running chain link or chicken wire in between and interlocking tires side by side as well. Rrivets aren't free but they are inexpensive fasteners and incorporating them with washers and the metal already in the tire makes a wonderful structure, and might help in some of the code issues involved in getting these buildings recognized properly.  Please tell me what you think.

A: (Kelly) It is certainly a good thing to recycle tires in such a positive manner. Fastening the tires together with rivets as you suggest should work, and would likely add to the overall stability of the system, but I question whether it is really necessary. There sheer weight of all of the earth-packed tires pressing them together provides a great deal of friction (and nesting) to keep the tire wall monolithic; I have never heard of such a tire wall failing. But if riveting the tires together makes the building authorities happy, then this is small price to pay...

Q: My partner and I are interested in the design of Earthship. The question we have is that we own land in Honduras in the mountains of La Esperanza and it is the rain forest. Plenty of water and sun. Can we build there where it is not dry as NM?

A: (Kelly) While the Earthship designs were first built in the arid SW US, they have been built successfully all over the world. Sometimes it is necessary to temper the design some to increase or decrease the solar exposure, depending on the climate. In Honduras, I would expect that you would not need as much passive solar heat as you would in New Mexico, so the southern glass may need to be shaded more. As for rain, I wouldn't expect that to be much of an issue. Earthships are designed to capture rain water and use it for domestic purposes, so this system would need to be able to handle the overflow.

Q: I live in upstate New York. It is possible to build such a structure in this part of the country, correct? Also how long does it typically take to get the structure to a point where one could live inside. And last but not least about how much can I expect to spend to build such a structure. A ball park figure would be good, cause I know that the inside is like any other house. Meaning you could spend tons if desired. But about how much to get the structure built and livable.

A: (Kelly) Earthships have been built in most states, although it may take some hand-holding to get your local building authorities to accept it. They should perform very nicely in that climate. I usually say that most green buildings (including Earthships) can be built for no more than the common cost per square ft. of new construction in your region . You can check with local contractors or real estate professionals for this figure. Much of the material (the tires) is free, but packing them and finishing the walls is labor-intensive, so this might balance out. A lot depends on how much you can do yourself, or with the help of friends. Sorry I can't give you a definitive figure for the cost...

Q: Do earthships work well in the Northeast, i. e. mountains of Pennsylvania?

A: (Kelly) Earthships have been built all over the world. Even in the Northeastern US, where sunlight is not as abundant during the winter as some other places, a well designed passive solar house will save energy and be comfortable.

Q: Is this design ok for the southern Caribbean?

A: (Kelly) Earthships are designed for passive solar heating. Most places in the Caribbean don't really need a great deal of heating during the year, so this aspect of the earthship design might need to be altered somewhat for that climate. This could be done by using less glazing, employing shades for the windows or facing the glass walls toward the north.

Q: A group of us are looking at purchasing property in Nicaragua and are wondering if you have ever built earthships there?

A: Yes we have built in Nicaragua:  casallanta.com

Q: My land is relatively flat and has very high water table so excavation would be problematic. Does that pose a barrier to building an earthship?

A: (Kelly) Not really...you can still build an earthship and simply bring in soil to berm around it.

Q: My husband and I are wanting to build a two story home out of rammed earth tires is this possible?

A: (Kelly) Rammed tires are very stable, and I would expect that with proper engineering they could be extended to two stories. It might take some sort of bond beam at the level of the first floor and then again at the top. Check with a good engineer.

Q: Where do you buy old tires from? I'm working on a spiral home, well, five years from now anyway, and tire building looks like a good alternative. What do they cost? I'm trying to get an idea, so I can see how many I need to set aside.

A: (Kelly) Old tires are a tremendous problem to dispose of in most communities throughout the U. S., and can usually be gotten for free. I suggest querying your local tire shops; they may be willing to save them for you. It is illegal to stock pile them in some places though, because they can harbor mosquitoes.

Q: I'm interested in building a earthship in New Hampshire. I was wondering about the materials needed for 1200 sq. ft. home? I've been looking at earth sheltered kits and would like to learn as much as I can about Earthship building costs.

A: (Kelly) Earthships use a lot of recycled materials, like used tires and aluminum cans, in addition to earth, glass, and timbers. Much of this is either free or not terribly costly. On the other hand, Earthships are labor intensive to build, so this means time and money if you pay for labor. So it really depends on how you go about building it how much it might cost. In general, I would say that an Earthship should cost no more than the going rate per square foot for new construction in your area.

Q: Are there any special considerations or alterations necessary to an Earthship in Alaska? I am concerned about freezing/thawing, heaving, permafrost, excessive moisture, etc.

A: (Kelly) The basic Earthship concept should work very well in Alaska, particularly since they are designed to store solar heat provided during the summer for use in the winter. The very large insulated thermal storage area is located behind the walls of tires. As with any house, you will need to provide a proper foundation, plaster, etc. that can withstand any frost heaving or excessive moisture. My understanding is that the permafrost is not remaining frozen in many areas of the north, and this will be a major issue as time goes on. The tire walls create their own foundation, but these walls do need to be set on undisturbed soil that is below any probable heaving activity during the cold season, or thawing activity during the warm season. To deal with excessive moisture around the foundation you may need to install a sort of French drain system that will carry away any water runoff to an area away from the house.

Q: How much does a earthship run if it's about 1200 sf? I live in Oregon.

A (Kelly): Earthships cost approximately the same per square foot to construct as conventional homes. The cost savings is reflected in the fact that once complete, the Earthship home will have little or no utility bills. You can ask local realtors or builders what the cost per square foot of building tends to be in your region.

Q: I just purchase a parcel that is 1.25 acre but the property is square. I want to build a 3 bedroom earthship on this parcel, is there a required minimum land size for these types of homes?

A (Kelly): You should have no trouble situating an earthship on land that size. All you really need is enough land to allow the footprint of the home (plus the dimensions of the berms and any set-back requirements)...and to be sure that there are no obstructions for passive solar gain to the south.

Q: I am preparing to build a papercrete/rammed tire structure, wondering about the possibility of pouring papercrete as a partial filler in the tires, either building bracing to pour roughly four inches of the slurry into the tire on its end, with bracing keeping the tire bulged. And then jamming dry papercrete in to fill the void once it shrinks from drying before removing bracing. Followed by typical ramming with earth. The result hopefully being a rammed tire with the exterior wall being papercrete for insulation. Alternately following the same earthship technique for placement of bond beam, ramming a tire full, then hollowing out the center and pouring papercrete in. Ideal results being a rammed tire wall with a papercrete center. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

A (Kelly): The trick to what you describe would be getting the papercrete to dry completely once it is poured into the tires. Since it can't air out very well, this may take quite awhile. But if you can figure out a way to do this, then it might work for you. This will definitely take some experimentation.

Q: Can a earthship walls be build out of earthbags?

A (Kelly): Yes, I have often thought that the basic earthship design would be much easier to accomplish using earthbags.

Q: We are a small group of people starting a deli/cafe/pub in Houston, TX and would like an earthship structure. We are unaware of any earthship based restaurants and want to influence Houston and encourage them to be more environmentally conscientious, an earthship would be ideal. Do you think an earthship could support our needs? We're into the green movement and don't think there are enough people out there who know about earthships and this would be an excellent way to promote building styles that are respectful to the environment. We will not be running a full kitchen, so that's a plus.

A: (Kelly) The Earthship concept embraces many aspects of sustainable architecture and may well work for your needs, but it may not be the very best design for you. Earthships are optimized for passive solar heating and in Houston this will not be of much use. They are substantially bermed so that this tends to even out the temperatures, but they are also inherently rather dark without the massive south-facing windows...but maybe for a pub this is OK.

Q: I was salivating listening to the two videos about the earthships but then I got to the part that said they start at $150,000 to build. Where is the biggest cost coming from...the solar panels? Is there any way to cut the cost down to something less than a conventional home?

A: (Kelly) You can certainly build a nice home that resembles an Earthship for less than $150,000. There are many factors that influence how much a house will cost to build. Some of the designs that call for expensive solar equipment might cost more; some of the designs that use simple earthen concepts might cost less. The size of the house makes a big difference as well. Other factors, such as how much you are willing to do yourself and how good you might be at finding good deals on building supplies, can make a difference...so in other words, it all depends....

The Earthship plans themselves are quite expensive, so one place to save money is by finding similar plans that are less expensive. We have quite a few plans available at www.dreamgreenhomes.com for a few hundred dollars rather than thousands.

Q: Wondering if you could help me find a solution / answer to the odor the rubber tires emit. How is the odor prevented from entering living space?

A: As tires used in interior walls are plastered over using either adobe or cement plaster, no smell is able to emit from them. For an article on the non-issue of off-gassing in earthships, please see http://earthship.com/offgassing. If you would like to experience staying in an earthship yourself please consider staying in one of our nightly rental units: http://earthship.com/rentals

Q: I was wanting to get some information from you all about learning how to build an earthship. The twist is, is that I am looking to move to Haiti as a full time missionary and I am really excited about finding a self sustaining and environmentally friendly house design to learn to build there. I would even further like to learn to become proficient in these designs to use the structure as a business plan for local Haitians to 1) clean up the abundant trash around the country and 2) allow for more jobs so people can support themselves!

A: There are several avenues to pursue here: one option could be to purchase the books/DVDs form our website that detail how to build your own earthship. The most detailed are 'The Hut' DVD and Earthship Volumes 1-3 which detail how to make a larger home including all the systems. Please see http://earthship.com/store.html for our extended selection and to order.

Perhaps you would also be interested in interning with us here or on our proposed trip to Haiti to get some hands-on work experience? For more information on our internships please see http://earthship.com/internship and I will add your name to our 'Haiti interest' file so that we may contact you in the future to see if you would be interested in working with us while we are in Haiti. For information on all aspects of earthships and their systems please check out our website at www.earthship.com. Please feel free to schedule a consultation with Michael Reynolds to discuss your ideas further should you wish to do so.

Comment: I think for pounding the dirt into the tires, which you seem to stress is the hardest physical part of the whole project you could use something called a tamping machine. Its meant to pack dirt to dirt tester's standards and I think it could do a lot more than a sledge, substantially quicker. They are also very cheap to rent and easy to use and move around... :)