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Earthship The Earthship concept is the brainchild of Michael Reynolds, who has written several books on the topic. Near Taos New Mexico, where he has his Earthship Biotecture business, are whole communities of earthships. The basic earthship design incorporates substantially bermed, passive solar architecture. The primary retaining walls are constructed with used tires, filled with earth and stacked up like bricks. The interior surface of the tires is then plastered with adobe or cement so the tires don't normally show. Mike has also pioneered the use of empty aluminum cans mortared into lightweight, curvable walls. Earthships often employ many ecological concepts, such as water catchment from the roof, reuse of greywater, composting toilets, indoor gardening, etc. While some of the work of building is simple to do, it also tends to be very labor intensive. Furthermore, the wood framing required is not simple. Some of the earlier designs tend to overheat, especially in the summer, because of the slanted glass to the south. I have seen some truly elegant earthships, along with some that are pretty funky. Engineered plans are available that seem to please building inspectors, as these have been built in many localities. |
RESOURCES ARTICLE: EXPERT
ADVICE
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Earthship: How to Build Your Own by Michael E. Reynolds, 1990. This is the first in a series of three books about earthships. The basic concepts are clearly outlined. | Earthship: Systems and Components by Michael Reynolds, 1991. This second book in the series goes into more detail about specific systems that are adjuncts to the basic earthship. | Earthship: Evolution Beyond Economics by Mike Reynolds, 1993. This last book in the original trilogy is more of an exposition of Mike Reynolds's ideas about building and its place in the scheme of societies. | ||||||
| Comfort in Any Climate by Michael Reynolds, 2000. Comfort in Any Climate is about creating a comfortable space in any climate without the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling. The book breaks down important sustainable design concepts into clear, easily understood elements: thermal mass, insulation, heating, cooling, and ventilation. Using examples of built Earthship designs, the author shows applications of the presented concepts through text, illustrations and color photos. |
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Denis Weaver's Earthship [VHS video] by Denis Weaver, Michael Reynolds, 1990 |
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| The Tire House Book by Ed Paschich, 1995. What are tire houses? Who builds them? How do they do it? Will I see the tires when the house is finished? How weird are they? Can I do it myself? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more in this book that "Earth Quarterly" called "...an excellent addition to the library of any potential tire house builder, offering a wealth of unique ideas that can jump-start you to getting up, getting out, and building that sucker!" And the "Albuquerque Journal" said: "Better keep this one on the night table; you’ll probably want to refer to it as you build a home or an additiona to one." Using "landfill" tires and a revolutionary process, houses are being built that are both revolutionary and evolutionary--Michael Reynolds builds self-sufficient Earthships™, and Ed Paschich builds traditional homes using tires for the exterior walls. This book will tell you how you can be more responsible when you build a home, improve a home, or add a garden. You’ll learn about constructed wetlands, solar air conditioning, and xeriscape landscaping. It’s all here with many illustrations and photographs. |
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These are some of the latest plans from Earthship/Biotecture, Mike Reynolds' planning company. This is called a "Castle Earthship" and is the more basic of three new plans. A more advanced plan includes a two story jungle greenhouse.
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Packaged
Earthship
Floor
Plan Cross
Section For more information about this plan, and many others, visit our sister site www.dreamgreenhomes.com, where you will find a wide range of plans for sustainable homes, greenhouses, small buildings, garages, and food storage space for sale. Dream Green Homes is a consortium of outstanding architects and designers, who have pooled their talent and expertise for your benefit. |
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earthship.org this is the home site of earthship/biotecture, Mike Reynolds' business. youtube.com Earthship 101, Part 1; youtube.com part 2. youtube.com "Earthship Journey" Earthship tours: /youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, The Tire House Book by Ed Paschich, Paula Hendricks, 1995. bluerockstation.com of Ohio has an extensive review of the steps necessary to build an eathship and also offers workshops on these skills. |
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