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Despite a name redolent of a sci-fi flick, or a disaster movie, an Earthship is very much of this place and time. It would seem slight to call an Earthship a sustainable home — the structure is a defining example of biotecture, defined as the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability; in essence, a combination of biology and architecture. Even the description of an Earthship home, as noted on the Earthship Biotecture website, seems innocuous: “a passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials.” A more complete picture emerges a few lines down, getting at the integrated approach of the design and construction, as well as the home’s larger purpose: The Earthship is [a] “thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization” and goes on to note [its] “renewable energy and integrated water systems make the Earthship an off-grid home with little to no utility bills.”

Developed by architect Michael Reynolds, an Earthship is defined by the following six design principles, based on natural, sustainable practices, with the idea of creating a completely independent globally-oriented dwelling unit that works to be as carbon neutral as possible:

• Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
• Solar and Wind Electricity
• Contained sewage treatment
• Building with Natural and recycled materials
• Water Harvesting
• Food Production

The primary structural building material used is recycled automobile tires, filled with compacted earth to form a rammed earth brick encased in steel-belted rubber. Its strength allows the material to be used for load-bearing walls, yet also provides a resiliency and flexibility that is ideal for homes in areas that are prone to seismic activity. Interior, non-structural walls can be built from aluminum cans, which can be surprisingly strong. Glass bottles can also be used for interior walls. The goal is to make use of building materials that require little or no manufactured energy to construct or use, and can be easily obtainable.

Other notable design systems in an Earthship include:

• Water – Earthships utilize catch water systems, making the home dependent on precipitation from the as opposed to diminishing and pollution vulnerable aquifers. The catch systems also reduce the need for conventional water supply systems that are vulnerable to deteriorating piping systems
• Sewage – the homes contain and use and reuse all household sewage on indoor and outdoor treatment cells, utilizing a greywater system, which takes water that has been used and is unsuitable for drinking, and repurposes it for other acceptable water use

The design principles and systems used in construction of an Earthship can also be applied to retrofits for existing structures.

The rough estimate of an Earthship’s construction cost is based on about $200 per square foot, with 40% of the cost devoted to labor, 40% to materials, and 20% to systems and contractors.

More information can be found at the Earthship Biotecture website.

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