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Cloud · 03-15-2010, 02:38 PM

In case you don't know, an Earthship is a kind of off-the-grid home combining passive solar, thermal mass construction (rammed earth in tires), water collection and grey water processing, etc. They've been around for about 40 years and many of them have been built, so they have been refined quite a bit. They have engineered plans you can buy, and in New Mexico, they're even written into the building code (a big plus when you are trying to get permits, etc.).

They cost about the same as a conventional home to build (but I'd build a small one), but the big savings come afterwards. Utilities run about $100 a YEAR I'm told. Grow your own food, generate your own electricity, receive water from the sky. Plus, the hippie/hobbit home style really appeals to me.

So, I have about six years to accomplish this (when Medicaid kicks in and I can kick my 9-5). First up: save money for lot, and research!

And ... I'm going to pay someone to ram those tires full. (and I'll put a yurt on there first. Or a RV. or something!)

Main earthship architect:

http://earthship.org/

Flickr pictures of Earthships:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=earthship&s=int

03-15-2010, 02:38 PM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I want to build an Earthship! In case you don't know, an Earthship is a kind of off-the-grid home combining passive solar, thermal mass construction (rammed earth in tires), water collection and grey water processing, etc. They've been around for about 40 years and many of them have been built, so they have been refined quite a bit. They have engineered plans you can buy, and in New Mexico, they're even written into the building code (a big plus when you are trying to get permits, etc.). They cost about the same as a conventional home to build (but I'd build a small one), but the big savings come afterwards. Utilities run about $100 a YEAR I'm told. Grow your own food, generate your own electricity, receive water from the sky. Plus, the hippie/hobbit home style really appeals to me. So, I have about six years to accomplish this (when Medicaid kicks in and I can kick my 9-5). First up: save money for lot, and research! And ... I'm going to pay someone to ram those tires full. (and I'll put a yurt on there first. Or a RV. or something!) Main earthship architect: http://earthship.org/ Flickr pictures of Earthships: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=earthship&s=int __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"