Earthship A new way of building and living

The 6 Principles that define an Earthship: 1)Thermal/Solar Heating & CoolingThermal/Solar Heating & Cooling 2)Solar & Wind ElectricitySolar & Wind Electricity 3)Contained Sewage TreatmentContained Sewage Treatment 4)Building with Natural & Recycled MaterialsBuilding with Natural & Recycled Materials 5) Water HarvestingWater Harvesting 6) Food ProductionFood Production

1) Thermal/Solar Heating & CoolingThermal/Solar Heating & Cooling Comfort: Earthships maintain comfortable temperatures in any climate.

2) Solar & Wind ElectricitySolar & Wind Electricity Earthships “harvest” electricity from the sun, wind, generator

The Power Organizing Module (POM )

(3) Contained Sewage TreatmentContained Sewage Treatment Sewage: Earthships contain use and reuse all household sewage in indoor and outdoor treatment cells resulting in food production and landscaping with no pollution of aquifers ( 地下水含水層 )

Solar Toilet

4) Building with Natural & Recycled MaterialsBuilding with Natural & Recycled Materials Rammed-Earth encased in recycled rubber tires

Aluminum cans and Glass/ Plastic Bottles

5) Water HarvestingWater Harvesting Earthships catch water from the sky (rain & snow melt). Water is heated from the sun, biodiesel and/or natural gas. Earthships can have city water as backup. Earthships do not pollute underground water aquifers.

(6) Food ProductionFood Production

advantages Energy Efficiency --Earthships provide a large amount of thermal mass. This helps keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Self-Sustainability -- The homes are designed to take advantage of natural resources.

advantages "Buildability" --Earthships can be owner built. Easy Availability --Not only are tires easy to get, some places will pay you to take them away! There are plenty of tires, bottles and aluminum cans around.

Disadvantages Resellability - With any other alternative house building types, you might have a problem reselling a house that is "different" from the norm. Building Permits - As with all alternative building methods, you might run into some problems with local building codes.

Disadvantages Financing - Earthships are a very new concept in building design. Youu might have difficulty getting home loans.