Michael Reynolds Zoom LecturesMay 8, 2021
Michael Reynolds is now offering zoom lectures on any sustainable/earthship related topic…Email lauren@earthship.com for scheduling and rates
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Nomadland Movie Earthship FeatureApril 24, 2021
https://d2pbni5h22hdt0.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/29134349/NomadLand-Earthship-Video.mp4Nomadland is up for an Oscar and channel seven is doing an EARTHSHIP feature right after oscars.
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Earth Day Earthship CelebrationApril 8, 2021
Earthship Volume 1 15% off2021 Earthship Calendar 50% offSpecial Earth Day Earthship HQ Facility TourGet Ready: Thursday, April 22, Earth Day, 2021.2021 Earthship CalendarBeautiful Earthship Calendar for the 2021 Calendar Year. Beautiful images from many different Earthships.Earthship Volume 1: How to Build Your OwnThe first book in the Earthship Volume Trilogy written by Michael Reynolds. In Earthship Volume 1: Build Your Own, he describes earthships, the theories behind them, the need for them and why they work. He then dives into the details of how to actually build one.Earthship HQ Facility Guided-TourYou will meet in the gallery at 3pm where one of …
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Meet Candace Clark, our April Scholarship Recipient!February 20, 2021
Candace is a Tuskegee University Alumna from Chicago, IL, and a sustainable agriculture educator. She’ll be sharing some of her journey with us through the Academy process this April.
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Earthship Encounter 1/4” modelFebruary 9, 2021
Building an Earthship Encounter 1/4” model to help visualize future construction project. I used plans available on the Simple Survival app provided by Earthship biotecture. I began constructing this while quarantining at home during the Covid lock down. Finally ready to share. Enjoy!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se4w2yj3b7A
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Living Off-Grid During the PandemicFebruary 1, 2021
Share your Story Living Off-Grid During the Pandemic: Research Study Looking for ParticipantsHello! My name is Dr. Ryan Alan Sporer. I am a sociology professor at Salisbury University. I invite you to participate in my research study on the people who build and live in Earthships and other off-grid structures. These are some of the questions I hope to answer. Why are people building and living differently? How they are accomplishing this? What problems do they have to confront? And how has recent politics and the pandemic affected the off-grid movement? The purpose of this research is to add knowledge of …
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Colorado Earthship Offgrid on the MountainsideJanuary 18, 2021
My job as a lifestyles editor has taken me inside hundreds of homes, but none as fascinating as an Earthship in Park County, Colorado.Its owners, Cherrie and Guy Geerdts, traded careers in Denver in 2012 for laid-back mountain life near Guffey … population 25. Four years ago, they began looking at off-grid possibilities. “Nothing was right,” Guy recalls, until they landed the Earthship. “There were all kinds of signs that we were meant to own it. And, boom! We’re here.”In keeping with the architect’s vision, much of the construction is done by the dwelling’s intended inhabitants. The Earthship style was pioneered …
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Bonaire EarthshipJanuary 15, 2021
Welcome to the Bonaire Earthship!Ten years ago my husband had a vision to make something different on Bonaire, so he contacted the earthship organization and soon started the earthship houses in Bonaire.We started strong, but life happens and the Earthship wasn’t finished until 3 years ago! It became a labor of love, we worked hard ourselves to make this a reality.We built two eco houses, with solar panels, rain water collection systems and recycled materials. It is amazing what we can do with nature, we have everything we need! We created a greenhouse where we grow many plants, such as …
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Groundbreaking Women in the Construction IndustryJanuary 12, 2021
In a field where women reportedly account for only 10 percent of the labor force, these groundbreakers are building a more inclusive industry. Here, they share their tips for tackling a renovation—or a new career.Bozenka Shepherd, Cofounder of Woodward ThrowbacksHow to SaveIf you’re knocking down a wall, save all that lumber. Make shelves; construct a coffee table. Plane down reclaimed wood for a less rustic appearance—it will look buttery but still have character.Where to SplurgeSpend your time and money on the kitchen—it’s the heart of the house. Build or buy simple cabinets and go all out on custom doors to get …
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Independent Study: Jacqueline Topete 2020January 8, 2021
Description of Project Earthship Inspired Restaurant and Shop located in San Ignacio, Nayarit, México. This little town is located 1 km away from the chic trendy town of Sayulita that receives tourists from all over the world.Proposed BeneficiariesThe restaurant will be run by Jacqueline Topete and will give service to locals and people traveling on the road.Time frame (target dates) August 15th to December 30th 2020. The construction will be done by volunteers. They have been asked to work for at least 5 weeks and there are normally 6 at a time.Documenting this project Pictures are being taken as well as a daily …
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Independent Study: Salta BuildDecember 23, 2020
Earthship ́s Haiti plans under Mike ́s sketches in Uruguay combined with our plans.The staging was a little bit tough because the people in charge of the NGO got to it really late, and I think they thought it would be easier. Time was not enough for us to check every item we put in the list of materials, and we had to do that already there. They had to put everything on a truck and take it from Buenos Aires to Santa Victoria, more than 2.000km!!! Even the tires! Salta is going through a big conflict between people and …
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Independent Study: Earthship Survey – By: Ian WatsonDecember 23, 2020
I was first introduced to Earthships in 2015. At the time I remember thinking they looked a bit like spaceships but didn’t give them much thought otherwise. Fast forward to 2018. I had recently closed my solar water heating business and was focused on a new business auctioning used goods. The new business was running fairly smoothly, but something was missing. Often would talk about moving on, but months would pass, and then years, and the day would never come. Then one day, when visiting family in Peru, my cousin asked me: “If you could do anything in the world, …
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Earthship Rentals Safety and Disinfecting ProtocolDecember 15, 2020
>> Earthship RentalsWhile many things have changed many still remain the same. We hope that our guests will continue to enjoy the unique, educational and peaceful stay in our Earthship Nightly Rentals. For our staff and guests safety we are implementing new and enhanced safety and disinfecting protocols for COVID -19. The safety of our staff and guests will be our number one priority. We have provided staff with additional training which covers information to keep our staff and guests safe.Waiting periods will be implemented between guests to allow time for the home to be properly cleaned and disinfected. Due …
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Early ProjectsDecember 2, 2020
First Aluminum Can HouseIn the early seventies the can companies came out with aluminum cans. They would last forever unlike the old steel ones. Soon they were everywhere; on every street, road, and alley; and in every park and parking lot all over the world. The can companies had created my next building material. The structure of this house was concrete post and beam. The aluminum can wall panels infilled the structure and created both exterior and interior finishes. It was southern oriented and had significant solar gain. I built it for $25,000. I was just glad someone wanted …
Read More…- UNITY
November 22, 2020
The evolutions of the UNITY floor plan are…direct egress from the bedrooms which make permitting easier; insulated drapes to seal off inner living spaces rather than glass which is more economical; simple “U” construction like original Earthships; no roof penetrations; electric snow melt; overall more user friendly construction and operation; and floor plan size modifications applicable on a modular program.
Read More… - UNITY
November 22, 2020
We will be presenting the new UNITY design in concept and construction details over the next few weeks.
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Haiti Earthship School Construction DrawingsNovember 6, 2020
Floor Plan, Section, Elevation and Door Study. Tropical Earthship Design for Haiti Earthship School.
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Diary – Research trip Haiti Earthship SchoolNovember 5, 2020
Research trip dates: October 31 – November 03, 2020
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Updates from the field Haiti Earthship SchoolNovember 3, 2020
Images and Videos from Earthship Haiti Recon visit. We are offering our first not for profit academy session on the Haitian island of La Gonave.
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Earthships and Cancer Episode 6October 29, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imoXfUrDsysCase Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, #Earthship Garbage Warrior. See also Parallels with the Matrix. Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine.
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Earthship Update for Cape Town, South AfricaOctober 16, 2020
Alternative building construction can take many forms, and one of them is the earthship.Pioneered by American architect Michael Reynolds more than 40 years ago, earthships are made of natural and repurposed materials such as tyres packed with earth.According to Appropedia the first earthship in Mzansi was constructed near Hermanus in the Western Cape by Angel and Yvonne Kamp between 1996 and 1998.It used 1 500 tyres for the very thick walls, which helps make the home energy efficient.The use of ecobricks, glass and plastic bottles, as well as natural materials such as maize cobs, reduces cost as well as our …
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Ashley Gauer, learns how to build an EarthshipOctober 15, 2020
MBEP’s climate change initiative lead, Ashley Gauer, learns how to build an EarthshipUnder any circumstances, pounding metal support rods, ramming dirt into old tires and digging trenches would be physically demanding. The dry, blazing heat of a New Mexico sun, with temperatures that can hover near triple digits, can turn the work into a test of body and spirit.For MBEP’s special project manager and lead on MBEP’s climate initiative, Ashley Gauer, who recently spent a month building an Earthship in the desert, “It was a transformative and humbling experience, “ said Gauer. “I am inspired by out-of-the-box solutions, bold ideas and …
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Bucket planted cucumber in classroom!October 15, 2020
Hello,I just wanted to share a photo of the children in my classroom pollinating the cucumber plant we planted 2 months ago in a bucket planter. I bring grey water from home and they water it every day. They’ve also decided to convert our old turtle tank into another “bucket” planter!
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Three Earthship QuestionsOctober 14, 2020
1) How did Micheal Reynolds think to add passive solar heat/ventilation and thermal mass when he was designing the Earthship? Michael Reynolds went to school to study architecture. Part of those studies was to learn about alternatives, history and other cultures. Relating to the sun and physics is part of these studies. Adding Passive House designs and techniques fit right in with producing a building to be as self-sufficient as possible. Passive House originated out of Europe as is designed to have a complete ‘envelope’ of insulation around the building. The perfect wall is thermal mass on the inside (rammed earth) and …
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Earthship Academy Minority Outreach ScholarshipOctober 9, 2020
Earthship Academy is offering 2 half-scholarships per 2022 session. Half-scholarships equate to $1,250 towards tuition and $250 towards housing accommodations for sessions at Earthship Biotecture headquarters in Taos, NM.Scholarship Candidates: Who should apply?This full scholarship is intended to empower low-income communities located in rural regions of the US. We are looking for candidates in the following categories:Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) are especially encouraged to applyIndividuals and/or appointed members of organizations who contribute to their communities in rural/low-income/marginalized areas and/or native American reservationsIndividuals studying housing issues and/or low-income housing alternativesHousing activists and environmental activistsExperienced construction workers passionate about building off-grid communitiesWhat …
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Collingwood EarthshipOctober 6, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lozq1fiC2_sThe goal of this web page is to network Canadian Earthship projects so that we can learn from one another and help to find volunteers for these projects. We will have weekend workshops in the summer of 2020.collingwoodearthship.wordpress.comI went through 4 different Architects and only used one set of local engineers (www.crozier.com). I am happy to share my advice on how to develop your site.email me if you like at freespiritgardens@gmail.comYou first step is to take a picture of some plans into the building department of the town that you hope to build in (before you buy the land) and …
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Greensboro Vermont Earthship is going upSeptember 28, 2020
A house made of trash and tires in the NEK makes an eco-friendly ‘earthship’.She stood in a circular hilltop clearing in the Greensboro woods Friday afternoon, speaking as a six-man crew maneuvered around a mass of scrap tires, cardboard and piled fill materials. “All this stuff, a lot of it is just garbage,” the Massachusetts native said. That garbage is the material she’s using to building a home. Hatch and the work crew have been building an earthship, a type of house made from recycled materials that aims to retain a constant temperature, with less need for traditional heating and cooling. The design originated …
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Earthships and Cancer Episode 5September 12, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z2QG4tJcMICase Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior. See also Parallels with the Matrix.https://d334d4qdfk61ge.cloudfront.net/parallels-with-the-matrix/ Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine.
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Kinship – Kinglake Earthship AustraliaSeptember 11, 2020
‘Kinship’ emerged out of a desire to create a positive legacy from the wreck of Black Saturday.The building is constructed from second hand and redundant object upcycled materials, and is solar passive, and uses no fuel or energy for space heating or cooling (and performs at a 20+ star rating).When complete, it will be off grid for electricity (solar, wind, geothermal), process all grey and black waste, collect and store rainwater, grow food (inside and out) and be fire and flood resistant.Location: Kinglake, VIC 3763Housing Type: Standalone HouseProject Type: Global Model Earthship Inspired BuildBuilder: owner-builderDesigner: BiotectureDespite the fire damage, we managed to salvage most …
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Journey: 1975 The Hobbit HouseSeptember 11, 2020
Cañon went on to become a compound that I lived in with three different wives and families at three different times of my life. Many things were learned there. The first tire house was built there. We call it the Hobbit House. At right is how it looks today. It was built with the help of students from my old architectural school – University of Cincinnati. New Mexico was very backward in those days and building permits were not seriously enforced. This really is the reason that so much was learned – because we were free… …
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Journey: 1971 – A Vision of Four WizardsSeptember 10, 2020
I kept adding on to the building with recycled materials and kept gazing at the full moon from the coffer. The full moon came across the southern sky and almost burned a hole straight through my brain. Guess it was no wonder I had a vision… a vision of four wizards. The First WizardThe first wizard told me about time and motion and magic. It used the example of a toy top that spins. The top is painted two different colors. While the top is motionless, these two colors appear as two individual spaces on the surface of …
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Journey: 1971September 9, 2020
After graduation (in absentia), I bought an old barn made of railroad ties on 4 1/2 acres in an apple orchard just outside of Taos, New Mexico. I put in a bathroom and a fireplace from an old boiler and moved in with my first wife Susan. We had a son, Jonah and five dogs. It was there that I first started using anything I could find for anything I needed. I added on to the building with bottles, cans and tires. I made light fixtures out of tuna cans, a bed for Jonah from wooden Coke cases and …
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Virtual Self-Guided Tour of the Earthship Visitor CenterSeptember 4, 2020
Earthship Visitor Center. We are Open! We have made a few changes to adapt to the pandemic. Private Tours available on Tuesdays, please call us at 575-613-4409 earthship.com/visit
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Journey: 1969September 4, 2020
Then there was my thesis – hated by half the graduating class and the faculty because it allowed owner/residents to build their own homes within a superstructure of concrete. It allowed regular people to tread on that “sacred ground” owned by the architect.The other half of the class and the faculty loved it and praised it and it ended up getting published in ARCHITECTURAL RECORD magazine. This was the beginning of something that kept happening for the rest of my life – condemnation and praise appearing on the same plate. It caused me to learn to take neither seriously. It …
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Journey: 1966 – 68September 4, 2020
Architectural school at the University of Cincinnati was the beginning of a roller coaster ride that is still going on today. I paid my way through school partially by painting. I had a gallery of my own in Louisville, Kentucky and was selling paintings off the easel before they were even finished. My wife Susan ran the gallery while I was in school sessions. She was an artist as well and we both made money. Opposite is one of my watercolors of Chartres Cathedral in France. Susan and I went to London right after we got married. The architectural …
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Journey: 1950September 4, 2020
Well, if I’m gonna try and talk about how and why thisEarthship thing really happened…I have to go way back – way, way back. I mean, if your gonna hold up a piece of garbage to the rest of the world and tell them it’s gold, you have to be determined. If you’re gonna stick with it long enough to actually convince them it really is gold, then we’re talkin’’ about a level of determination here that is approaching sickness. So I have to trace this back to my first real find…the unbelievable, unrelenting force of determination.I was about five …
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Journey: 1970September 4, 2020
1970It all really started…with a house I built out of the old steel beer cans in the early seventies. It was inspired by a tv news report on the Walter Cronkite news broadcast. They were talking about beer and soda cans being thrown all over the countryside. They predicted a garbage problem in the future. Looks like they were right – we are drowning in our own garbage right now.On the same show they talked about clear cutting timber in the northwest for housing . They predicted, environmental damage caused by clear cutting in addition to skyrocketing wood prices resulting …
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Journey: IntroductionSeptember 4, 2020
Many people all over the planet know of Earthships. But few really know what they are and fewer still know what the effort is really all about. Some think they are just buildings made of old tires – “what a neat idea” – they think. Others think they are solar buildings made of recycled materials – “great”. Still others are aware of the fact that they are an attempt (getting quite successful) at making totally sustainable homes from by-products of our society. Even this is still an incomplete understanding.Plants of various types and species once covered the planet. Their …
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Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior Live Interview for Sept. 22August 31, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYq2Dfmw0BIMichael Reynolds, Earthship Creator / Garbage Warrior will be interviewed live on September 22. Master Earthship Biotect, Phil Basehart will conduct the interview. We look forward to a lively event as we talk about how we got here, what Earthship Models played a significant part in the evolution of the Earthship concept and where we look to go into the future as we strive to secure self-sufficient housing for the people.Submit your questions for Michael Reynolds below and plan to attend on September 22 at 11am.This is a FREE Event. Earthship Biotecture* To reduce the economic and institutional barriers between …
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“Earthship style” shed constructionAugust 31, 2020
Derek Stenborg, Earthship Academy Student: After attending the Earthship Academy in Taos NM, I wanted to start on a small project to exercise some construction skills. Here is phase 1 of a multiphase process. Phase 2 is a much longer and detailed video of the process, check it out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0h35ErhahMOff Grid Shed phase 2. This is a detailed video of the latest push to get this shed construction done. Like with most construction projects, it always takes longer than you think. The construction techniques are borrowing from one of the Earthship key principles of using ‘Natural and Recycled’ Materials in the …
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Six Nations Earthship Update: Home Made TomatoesAugust 27, 2020
Sweet taste of heritage tomatoes at Mohawk Seedkeepers Earthship.By Donna Duric Writer Who knew that so many tomato varieties existed and that they could all taste so different? If you did your gardening right, tomato season is here and there are dozens of varieties to choose from. Some are good in salads, some are good to use in salsas, and others are better for a homemade marinara sauce. It all depends on how tangy or sweet the tomato variety is. Renowned Six Nations gardener and seedkeeper Terrylynn Brant held a tomato taste test at her unique “earthship” property on Chiefswood …
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Encounter Earthship Field Study ProgressAugust 21, 2020
We are building in the Greater World Earthship Community here in Taos, New Mexico. This project is with our wonderful Field Study Earthship Academy Students.FIELD STUDYStudents receive credit towards this requirement by participating in an official Earthship Biotecture Field Studies project. Field Study opportunities are intended to help further student’s knowledge of hands-on building techniques by inviting them to work alongside the Earthship Biotecture crew on a ground up build. They are usually offered 2 to 3 times a year in the US and internationally. Projects range in duration from 2-8 weeks. There are two types of Field Studies offered: …
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Decentralized Power Utilities with Solar and Battery BackupAugust 21, 2020
To the editor: I recently installed a modest rooftop solar electricity system, motivated by the long-term payback, rising utility rates and the 26% federal tax credit. (“Here’s how California can keep the lights on while meeting its clean energy goals,” Aug. 19)My utility does not appear to share my enthusiasm. It wanted $1,000 for a new meter, which is really just the same meter on my panel but with more sophisticated electronics. To encourage customers to install solar panels, utilities should give these meters out for free or at least sell them at cost.Last month, my system produced 1,103 kilowatt-hours, …
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Earthship Biotecture on Channel 1 NEWSAugust 19, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX3y37p1Gz0Super Sustainable Buildings via Thermal Dynamics & Passive Solar.An Earthship is a type of passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials (such as earth-packed tires). Earthships can be completely off-grid or partially off-grid. Earthships can be built in any part of the world, in any climate (with a permit) and still provide electricity, potable water, contained sewage treatment and sustainable food production.Earthships are thermal mass homes first,passive solar homes second.Whatever temperature goes into an Earthship, it will hold… and since it is also a Passive Solar House, it is also very tight and interacts only with the sun and the earth for heating and cooling, providing …
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August 2020 Update – Puerto Rico Earthship EmbassyAugust 19, 2020
We are now in Puerto Rico for Phase 6 of the construction of the Puerto Rico Hurricane Resistant Earthship Community Center! Make a difference and support this project by donating, any little amount will go to a good cause!Location: Aguada, Puerto RicoDates: August 17-29 2020We will be focusing on finishing this project and hand it over the local non profit organization to run the community center.Please help us develop a self-sustainable Puerto Rico, where its residents can feel safe in hurricane resistant homes that provide power, water and food. Please donate, share or refer our project to those individuals or organizations who can help us raise …
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Encounter Earthship StagingAugust 16, 2020
The new ENCOUNTER model Earthship is continuing to evolve and we will be building its latest version in Taos, New Mexico this spring/summer. It is meant to function as well as the very successful global model but cost 30% less.Staging images of the Encounter Earthship Design. Earthship Biotecture is building now, August – October, 2020. This Earthship build is part of the Earthship Academy Field Studies. Cisterns for catching water.Tires for the walls.Culverts for the Cooling Tubes.Insulation for the Thermal Wrap.Layout of the Encounter Earthship.Located in the Greater World Earthship Community.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGOOVnefSRk
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E3 Encounter Earthship Progress ImagesAugust 14, 2020
Studio, One Bed, Two bed, Three Bed.Off-grid, zero fossil-fuels – all modern amenities. Solar Electricity, Catch Water, Contained Waste Water Treatment, Passive Solar, Thermal Dynamics.Modern Appliances and Modern Living. Clothes washer and dryer. Electric cooking (can have natural gas or liquid propane).Printed Encounter Construction Drawings are available. $400 – $600
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Simple Survival Earthship Build – ColoradoAugust 13, 2020
Simple Survival ModelImages from the field at 11,000 ft. in Colorado, USA. We have many students who attended the Online Earthship Academy.The Simple Survival Earthship is designed to provide comfortable shelter, clean water, contained sewage and basic solar power for lights and charging small electronics at a very low price. This building uses simple systems developed for the earthquake-relief demonstration project in Haiti. The Simple Survival Earthship may be built with one or more rooms and has evolved to include Vaulted Concrete and Wood Roof options. The concept has been applied to numerous disaster-relief and humanitarian builds around the world. …
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Luxembourg Earthship UpdateAugust 12, 2020
SETBACKS FOR LUXEMBOURG’S EARTHSHIPConstruction of Luxembourg’s first off-grid learning centre made from repurposed material has been setback. But covid-19 is not the only cause.International volunteers and experts built the first supporting walls of the Aërdschëff in Redange-sur-Attert using tyres pounded with earth during the summer of 2019 and it was hoped that the roof would be added by a contracted firm before the end of February.But the call for tender and dossier for the project, which was initiated by Centre for Ecological Learning Luxembourg (Cell) with public funds, got lost. “No-one knew where it was. We lost a lot of …
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Earthship provides off-grid living with a twistAugust 11, 2020
St. Albert Today – In an effort to escape the rat race, the Stolz family moved to rural B.C. and built their own sustainable, solar-powered home.For the past 10 months, the Stolz family has been waking up to earthen floors and cob walls in their hand-built sustainable home near Golden, B.C.They don’t have running hot water (yet), or a dishwasher (it’s in the wings), but after five years of labour and love, life in their Earthship is off to a great start for the family of four. Earthships are generally off-grid, solar-powered homes, a design pioneered by architect Michael Reynolds. …
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Earthships: Inside a Model of Self-Sustainable Living in TaosAugust 11, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rvq1c84-ZINBC Chicago – In Taos, New Mexico, a team is building a model of self-sustainable, off-the-grid living called Earthships. The concept was pioneered by Michael Reynolds 50 years ago and has been evolving ever since. He said the structures meet the six key human needs by providing shelter, water, food, energy, sewage treatment and garbage management. Encounter Earthship DesignStudio, One Bed, Two bed, Three Bed.Off-grid, zero fossil-fuels – all modern amenities.Solar Electricity, Catch Water, Contained Waste Water Treatment, Passive Solar, Thermal Dynamics.Modern Appliances and Modern Living. Clothes washer and dryer. Electric cooking (can have natural gas or liquid propane).Earthship Biotecture can …
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Earthships and Cancer Episode 4August 9, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGPKlWJ5BrY Case Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior. See also Parallels with the Matrix. https://d334d4qdfk61ge.cloudfront.net/parallels-with-the-matrix/ Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine.
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Hobbit House EarthshipAugust 9, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8YiT1x32rI Tour with Michael Reynolds, #Earthship Garbage Warrior See what one of our renters had to say about the Hobbit House. “THE BEST AIRBNB we have ever stayed at! Such a fun and unique experience with everything we need to be comfortable and happy! Wish we could stay there longer! Coming back for sure!” Book this Earthship now at https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16883330 The first official Earthship ever built back in 1979 is now refurbished for use as a nighty rental. It is called the “Hobbit House”. * Eco-friendly house with all modern comforts and amenities. * Studio size with kitchen/living/dining and greenhouse …
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MEM partners with Earthship Biotecture AcademyAugust 8, 2020
Earthship Biotecture Academy partners with Western Colorado University’s two-year Master in Environmental Management graduate degree. Participants in the academy can also earn undergraduate credit to be applied to their bachelor’s degrees in universities across the world. In addition, AmeriCorps volunteers can apply their Segal Education Award to attending the Earthship Biotecture Academy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YEVEJ_LfuA Dr. Jessica Young and Dr. Scott Borden introduce an exciting partnership between the School of Environment and Sustainability, Western’s Master in Environmental Management, and the Earthship Biotecture Academy. Earn a Master in Environmental Management degree! You can incorporate your academy experience, independent study and field experience into …
Read More…- Earthship Biotecture on ‘The Adaptors’
August 8, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn8XeOhzr7sSuper Sustainable Buildings via Thermal Dynamics & Passive Solar.An Earthship is a type of passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials (such as earth-packed tires). Earthships can be completely off-grid or partially off-grid.Earthships can be built in any part of the world, in any climate (with a permit) and still provide electricity, potable water, contained sewage treatment and sustainable food production.Earthships are thermal mass homes first,passive solar homes second.Whatever temperature goes into an Earthship, it will hold… and since it is also a Passive Solar House, it is also very tight and interacts only with the sun and the earth for heating and cooling, providing …
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Waybee Global Model Earthship TourAugust 8, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJhmaYk9veI The Global Earthship design performs in almost any climate around the world. The main features of this design include a double layer of glass (“double greenhouse”) between the inner living spaces and the outside and the use of underground cooling tubes and convection skylights which work together to provide ventilation and natural air conditioning for the building. Global Model Earthships have been built in France, Germany, Mexico, Canada and across the United States. “Off-the-rack” construction drawings are available for purchase and range in size from studio to three bedrooms. Visitors to the Greater World Community can rent one of …
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Hot Chili peppersAugust 8, 2020
We’ll harvest the dried peppers and do a lacto ferment to make hot sauce.
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Hibiscus flower- used for teaAugust 8, 2020
Flower opens for a day or two and you can harvest the leaves and petals for tea.
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Earthship Nightly Rentals Walk ThroughAugust 7, 2020
Earthship Nightly Rentals Reservations – www.earthship.com/stay If you ever wondered what it might be like to live off-the-grid, you can “test drive” an Earthship for a night or two in Taos, New Mexico and enjoy modern amenities in a fully autonomous building. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqlQXFwlPmU
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Look what our graduates have done!July 29, 2020
Meet Bill Ayers. He is an Earthship Academy graduate and that he attended two phases of the Aguada, Puerto Rico project. For the month of October 2016 I attended the Earthship Biotecture Academy in Taos, NM. In 2018 I completed my field study requirement by attending the first two phases of the Earthship Biotecture build in Puerto Rico. July 2019 we purchased 7 acres of raw land in North East Kansas and began building and developing our land with the end goal of having a self sustainable homestead with a food forest and an Earthship inspired home. I now do …
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Earthships and Cancer Episode 3July 27, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekOhwOnjsYU Case Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior. See also Parallels with the Matrix. Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine.
Read More…- New Mexico’s first earthship on Airbnb
July 23, 2020
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – It’s cool and quirky and it’s right here in New Mexico. If you’re looking for a unique getaway during the pandemic you can stay in your very own earthship. It’s a way to live in luxury, completely off the grid, with amazing views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and you can experience it all when you book a stay in the earthship community near Taos. “It’s a nice little unit that’s close to town and it does open people’s eyes to the very beginning of the concept that we call the Earthship concept,” says founder Michael …
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Six Ways to Live More SustainablyJuly 18, 2020
We all claim to love the planet, but do we really? It’s easy to love something when it’s lavishing you with refreshing hikes, clear lakes, and gorgeously glowing sunsets. It’s much harder when the object of your affections asks for something in return — such as your toilet paper. It isn’t news that pollution and climate change are threatening our planet. Scientists have been screaming that our lifestyles are unsustainable for decades, begging people to be more mindful in their consumption. Yet habit and convenience has caused us to largely ignore these dire warnings, continuing to use paper coffee cups and burn fossil …
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In the US, People are moving out of the cities to rural areas.July 17, 2020
U.S. homebuilding surges as coronavirus crisis sparks flight to suburbs, rural areas WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. homebuilding increased by the most in nearly four years in June amid reports of rising demand for housing in suburbs and rural areas as companies allow employees flexibility to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing starts increased 17.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.186 million units last month, the Commerce Department said on Friday. The percentage increase was the largest since October 2016. Data for May was revised up to a 1.011 million-unit pace from the previously reported 974,000. …
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Smart Window Technology to Improve Energy EfficiencyJuly 15, 2020
Customizable Smart Window Technology Could Improve Energy Efficiency Of Buildings A customizable smart window harnesses and manipulates solar power to save energy and cut costs. Windows play multiple crucial roles in our homes. They illuminate, insulate and ventilate our spaces while providing views of — and protection from — the outdoors. Smart windows, or windows that use solar cell technology to convert sunlight into electricity, present the additional opportunity to leverage windows as energy sources. However, incorporating solar cells into windows while balancing the other complex, and often conflicting, roles of windows proves challenging. For example, juggling luminosity preferences and …
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Amazing Earthship Video with Drone FootageJuly 13, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVp5koAOu9MNew Earthshipscapture more energy, water & food at lower costby Kirsten Dirksen on July 13, 2020With walls made from old tires packed with earth, as well as upcycled glass bottles and cans, Earthships have always been built with mainly found materials. The home provides its own energy (with photovoltaics and passive solar and geothermal tubes), water (rainwater and even dew-water capture) and grows food in the essential greenhouse (necessary for temperature regulation and for filtering the water to be reused).Costs range from $100,000 for a Simple Survival model to $1.5 million for the top-of-the-line Global design. Earthship Biotecture has just …
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New BeginningsJuly 9, 2020
We’ve been growing Earthship Biotecture for 50 years. Literally speaking, we “grow” buildings that help to “grow” people. Most who know, consider Earthships as a kind of social reform, helping to change perspectives on how people can live. Not only live but THRIVE. We empower people by teaching them how to build their own off-grid homes. Setting them FREE from bureaucratically tyranny. But we also teach people how to grow their own food. Possibly one of the simplest forms of radical self-reliance. This year, with everything that’s going on that has revealed to us how BROKEN our systems are, we are re-dedicating ourselves to the production …
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How to use your AmeriCorps for the Earthship AcademyJuly 8, 2020
1. Register for your course with Earthship Academy. 2. Complete Western Colorado’s Credit Registration Packet. 3. Submit the Credit Registration Packet by: a. Email: Outdoorprograms@western.edu (PDF or Microsoft documents only). b. Fax: 970-943-7068 c. Mail: WCU Taylor 303 1 Western Way Gunnison, CO 81231 4. Once Extended Studies receives your credit registration packet you will receive a ‘Forms Received’ email confirming your registration forms have been received. 5. Within 7-10 business days you will receive an invoice with your total amount due. 6. Once you receive your invoice log onto your AmeriCorps portal and submit a voucher to WCU Financial Aid office. 7. When Extended Studies receives your AmeriCorps funds you …
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Earthships and Cancer Episode 2July 8, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwVS7IdI1I Case Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior. See also Parallels with the Matrix. Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine.
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A Trip through Northern New Mexico via RVJuly 6, 2020
Highway 64 extends from that bridge, taking people to interesting places like Earthship Biotecture’s Greater World Community. An Earthship is an autonomous building made from natural and recycled materials such as earth-packed tires and empty wine bottles. The homes use passive solar architecture and thermal mass construction, and rely on natural energy sources, allowing them to be off the grid. The 640-acre Greater World Community is the first Earthship subdivision, split into 1-acre lots. We took a guided tour through the visitors center and several homes. The completed homes were beautiful and functional. The one under construction, which was strewn …
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Earthships And Cancer Episode 1July 3, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcM3KoG9pqE Case Studies and Clinical Trials by Michael Reynolds, Earthship Garbage Warrior
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Solar Array Wiring How-ToJuly 3, 2020
In this article we will discuss the proper steps to wire a solar panel array to a combiner box for use in a solar electric system. For safety reasons, great care must be taken to ensure no wires are energized until all wiring is completed. This means that at least one series connection in each string of solar panels be left open until all other wiring is completed. Wiring the solar panels is the last step in wiring a solar electric system, so make sure your transmission wires from the combiner box to the charge controller (off-grid system) or inverter (grid-tied …
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Truchas Global Model Earthship for SaleJune 26, 2020
on 2 acres | $950,000 1.8 KW of solar panels (6) Surette 4V batteries Outback 3.5KW true sine wave inverter (4) 1700 gallon cisterns, 6400 total water storage capacity 2 solar water collectors 60 gallon solar hot water storage tank Solar heated roof collection (5) Ventilation tubes (2) Convection skylights Operable Velux windows Gray water interior planters Optional gray or fresh water flush toilets Exterior contained sewage treatment systeYour Content Goes Here Practical features of these Earthships: Built-in closets in every bedroom Washer and dryer hook-up Propane range DC solar powered refrigerator High efficiency lighting throughout WiFi available from Taos …
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Pyramid by Earthship BiotectureJune 19, 2020
Pyramid made of recycled aluminum cans, aligned true north. 1980s
Read More…- Inclusion / Exclusion Principle in a Human Situation
June 19, 2020
Let’s look at the inclusion/exclusion principle in a human situation. You are on a dark and lonely road in the New Mexico mountains. It is winter and the temperature is thirty degrees below zero and you have car trouble. You are completely stalled and in danger of freezing to death. By the way, you are a white person who is prejudice against black people, i.e. you do not include them in your accepted sphere of existence. Well, along comes a black man in a nice warm truck and offers you a ride to the nearest town which is 60 miles …
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A Lithium-Ion Battery PrimerJune 19, 2020
Lithium batteries are on a lot of people’s minds these days. Lithium battery technology allows for smaller and lighter battery banks, very low maintenance, greater depth of discharge compared to lead acid batteries, and much longer cycle life. Lithium is the lightest of all elemental metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest specific energy (storage capacity) by weight of any metal. Early tests with lithium discovered inherent instabilities with the lithium metals. Lithium ions replaced the metals and after improvements to stability and safety, experiments using various materials as anodes and cathodes strengthened performance qualities for higher specific …
Read More…- Earthship Puerto Rico – Phase 6
June 18, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XpQIb2gTgo We are now looking for volunteers to come and join us in August 2020 in Puerto Rico to work on the Puerto Rico Earthship Community Center! Come and join us! Visit biotectureplanetearth.org to sign up!
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Tire Offgassing Report – Non-IssueJune 15, 2020
This is a page to explain why building with tires is safe. The “off gases” are worst when tires are new. Old tires, buried in dirt and locked in concrete are safe for dwellings. We have several studies that have done in depth researches, here is one of them: This is an extensive study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison that was presented to us by the state of New Mexico. 40 YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSING MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS. The cover page of which is here. It can be obtained through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706. …
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Parallels of the MatrixJune 8, 2020
Parallels between the Energy Industry and Housing and the Pharmaceutical Industry and Medicine. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND STATEMENTS. FREE LIVE Stream with Michael Reynolds, Earthship Biotect.
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Almeria, Spain Owner-Built EarthshipJune 2, 2020
A couple lives in an off-grid Earthship made out of bottles, tires, and other materials collected from the trash. Laura Davies and David Buchanan live in an Earthship in Almeria, Spain. Their home is autonomous, meaning that they rely on energy from the sun and water from rain. The couple started building the Earthship in 2007. Over a decade later, they are still working on home improvements. The building features many of the traditional Earthship elements, like south-facing windows and planters, but the couple has also added their own elements, like a geodesic dome. Laura Davies and David Buchanan celebrated …
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A Coming of Wizards, A Manual of Human PotentialMay 27, 2020
There is a magical, enchanting and beautiful plot of land on this planet that has inspired many to change their lives and follow their dreams. This spot is about 20 miles west of Taos, New Mexico, and is the inspiration for one man, Michael E. Reynolds, who is on course to change the world. An ahead-of-his-time visionary and entrepreneur, architect, author, environmentalist and inspirational warrior, Reynolds is nothing less than brilliant. His book, A Coming of Wizards: A Manual of Human Potential, is written to explain his method of thinking behind his revolutionary “Earthship,” a beautiful, fully sustainable structure made mostly from garbage …
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Argentina Earthship School is OpenMay 21, 2020
Argentina Opened It’s First Sustainable School Built From Garbage Including 2000 Car Tyres By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory Michael Reynolds is an architect who’s redefining the way ‘Green’ architecture with his sustainable ‘Earthship’ buildings. The project is radical: it is Reynolds’ attempt to instill green architecture principles within the next generation. One of his latest projects was to construct an ultra-green public elementary school. The building was made completely of repurposed substances. Set out in a remote town in Buenos Aires, the building will also be used by Reynolds so that he could impart his self-sustaining knowledge to the next …
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Built an Earthship in Sims 4May 7, 2020
I think this is what they call, “bored in quarantine and longing for this kind of life.” This is obviously a very loose interpretation of an Earthship but it was fun to “build” nonetheless 🙂
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France Earthship TourMay 7, 2020
Living in Earthships Through a Global Crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WsiJPax4CA Earthship Biotecture has built in over 40 countries around the world. In 2017 we built a 2 bedroom Global Model for a family in Biras, France. In this video you will get to see a tour of the Earthship as well as an exclusive interview with the owner about their experience.
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I Am Attending the Earthship AcademyMay 4, 2020
Hi! I’v been on here for sometime now and decided to post my first thought, hoping to get some feedback and advice, I’ll try to be as clear and short as possible. I’m Ronald, 26, from New Jersey, US and currently living in New Zealand. By the time i head into any form of education aligned with what i want to do with my life, I’ll be 27. The passion and principle view I have for this industry is tightly correlated with environmentally responsible buildings e.g. variables from earthships, passive homes, bamboo construction, shipping container homes, straw-bale construction, earth bags …
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2020 Webster University in Taos, New MexicoApril 24, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCu7IbyN1mo 2020 Webster in Taos Student, Jenna Dobyns made this great video regarding living On/ Off the grid! A university science class investigating living on/ off the grid. The course is a hybrid class that is part online, part hands-on in Taos New Mexico. http://www.webster.edu/about Values, Vision & Characteristics Global. Action-oriented. Academically excellent. You are unique, so is Webster. From our historic Webster Groves campus to locations worldwide, every Webster University campus is inviting and personal — with an esteemed student-focused faculty. Our programs are flexible and our reach is global; both our students and faculty are from around the …
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Earthship Hotel UruguayApril 20, 2020
https://d334d4qdfk61ge.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/CALIU-EARTHSHIP-HOTEL.mp4 In February of 2019, Earthship Biotecture conducted an Earthship Academy for more than 60 students who gathered near Colonia Del Sacremento, Uruguay. A Star studded Earthship Crew tie Lou, Rory, Phil, Harry, Mo, Spider, Ralph, Dan, Michael and so many more and with the students focused on learning all about Earthships from the legends of Earthship. Four rentable hotel unites are available for international occupancy, the first of its kind in Latin America. Four bedroom units – Ensuite with a restaurant on site for more information or booking contact: Celiu Earthship Hotel – www.caliu.com.uy / +598 97 052 234
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A Solution for a Healthy Economy: EarthshipsApril 14, 2020
The Circular Economy model is steadily gaining momentum around the globe, doing away with a linear and wasteful mindset.Industry and governments are starting to see the economic benefits of being Circular and the potential environmental benefits are staggering. There is no arguing that being Circular is no longer an option, as it is required to sustain and grow economic activity given our limited resources.During the 90s, I discovered the work of architect Michael Reynolds. He created and developed a concept of a building that uses waste materials for its construction, is able to store and re-use its water supply, generates …
Read More…- Day 9 Encounter Earthship
April 10, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp4hal0A58gLast Tire Work, Door Boxes and Cistern Pads
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Earthships in Times of Crisis IIApril 8, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uy5GhSuJXE Security & Autonomy. Living in earthships provides security and safety via off-grid, sustainable designs and systems. Keep the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer with little to no utility bills / fossil fuels. This increases both psychological and physiological comfort.
Read More…- Sustainable Luxury in the Phoenix Earthship
March 30, 2020
The Phoenix is a fantastical castle complete with turrets and towers, rising above the sage-covered desert landscape. Full of whimsy, warmth, color and texture, this earthship shows that sustainability can co-exist with luxury and comfort. The house itself is a work of art with its custom tin light fixtures, stained glass windows, and light-filled bathing areas made from multi-colored glass bottle walls. A woodstove adds extra warmth and provides backup to the solar-powered heat. The centerpiece of the living room is a waterfall that pours over a built-in gas fireplace. All the water used in the house is caught from …
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Colorado Springs Passive Solar Home ReportMarch 29, 2020
Jim Gagnepain calls it “the little bermed house on the prairie.”He and his wife, Stephanie, built their retirement home in eastern El Paso County. Jim, who has a background in electrical engineering, acted as general contractor, and he and Stephanie did a lot of the work.The result? A unique, almost completely self-sufficient bermed earth home.Jim had long been interested in a zero- energy home, Stephanie says. And after they spent a night in an Earthship in New Mexico, “I woke up and said … ‘We’re going to build one of these.’”An Earthship, as pioneered by architect Michael Reynolds, is a …
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Thermal Mass WallsMarch 28, 2020
These walls systems are all solid walls made out of dense materials, of which the modern Brick, Block and poured concrete walls are the most common variety. Since these common variants are all have very low R-values, a fairly high embodied energy, and are familiar to most people, this discussion is about alternatives to those. The common components of these wall are an aggregate of some sort (sand and possible stone), and a binder of some sort (Portland cement, Clay or a combination). In some of the wall systems, some of the aggregate is replaced with straw which gives the …
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Micro-Hydro Power – Pros and ConsMarch 28, 2020
Small-scale micro hydro power is both an efficient and reliable form of energy, most of the time. However, there are certain disadvantages that should be considered before constructing a small hydro power system. It is crucial to have a grasp of the potential energy benefits as well as the limitations of hydro technology. There are some common misconceptions about micro-hydro power that need to be addressed. With the right research and skills, micro hydro can be an excellent method of harnessing renewable energy from small streams. This article will attempt to outline some of the advantages and disadvantages of small …
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RV Off-grid Power System Upgrade 12 Volt SystemMarch 28, 2020
Upgrading My RV Battery Bank and 12 Volt System A LITTLE OF MY RIGS BATTERY HISTORY When we bought our 30 foot Keystone Cougar fifth wheel new it came with one preinstalled deep cycle battery rated at 85 ampere hours. Having camped for many years in a campervan with a similar sized coach battery, I knew that 85 AH capacity wasn’t going to cut it. We were headed off on a one-year journey and planned to do some off the grid dry camping (AKA boondocking). I decided to increase our battery capacity and purchase a pair of six-volt golf cart …
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How to – Methane GeneratorMarch 28, 2020
You can make biogas energy with a DIY methane generator.Producing methane from manure using your own small scale waste to energy biogas digester is feasible for many small farms.Small Biogas generatorWhat is Biogas Energy?Biogas energy is fueled by burning methane produced by the decomposition of organic wastes.Methane is a gas chemically CH4. It is colourless, odourless and, of course, flammable. Methane is widely used as the main constituent of mains natural gas.Whenever organic materials are decomposed by bacteria anaerobically (i.e. in the absence of oxygen) methane and carbon dioxide are produced.Sources of Biogas EnergyJust about any organic waste can be …
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Passive HouseMarch 28, 2020
Passive House Buildings There is absolutely no cutting back on comfort; instead the level of comfort is considerably increased. A Passive House / Building is a building standard that is truly energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and ecological at the same time. Passive House / Building is not a brand name, but a construction concept that can be applied by anyone and that has stood the test of practice. Passive Buildings allow for heating and cooling related energy savings of up to 90% compared with typical building stock and over 75% compared with average new builds. In terms of heating oil, Passive Houses use less than 1.5 litres per square meter …
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Earthship buildings are fire resistant, not a total loss.March 28, 2020
The Question of how a structural earth-rammed tire wall would do in a fire has long been an issue for which we could only offer an intelligent opinion. People think that because tire piles in tire dumps burn so easily and are so hard to put out, that an earth-rammed tire wall would be the same. Our answer has been to compare a pile of tires (with air all around) to a lightly crumpled up piece of newspaper. Both of these would torch very easily due to the adequate air circulation around so many sufaces thus fueling the fire with both flammable material and oxygen. However, a New York City …
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Toilet Paper is bad, Here is what to use instead.March 27, 2020
Having access to soft, fluffy toilet paper is one of those modern conveniences that makes life in the 21st century that much easier. But did you know that using this luxury could be doing more damage to the environment than driving a large, gas-guzzling SUV? On average, every American uses three rolls of toilet paper each week (28 pounds per year), meaning that just 4 percent of the world’s population is responsible for 20 percent of total tissue consumption. This is destroying forests and impacting climate change in a significant way. A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council titled “The Issue with Tissue” said …
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Tire Retaining WallsMarch 27, 2020
The same method for building structural walls in buildings can be applied when building retaining walls made with rammed earth encased in steel-belted rubber. Depending on the load the retaining wall is retaining, the batter and other adjustments should be considered. Some tire retaining walls have been built up to 25 ft. high. Tires make an inexpensive solution that requires no concrete, wood or steel. The proper construction of a tire retaining wall involves filling the tires with dirt thats compacted with a sledgehammer or a pneumatic tamper. We call this process pounding the tires. First, you place the tire on a level grade, then pound it, checking it for level. Always …
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Cooling TubesMarch 27, 2020
Electricity free cooling based on ancient, global principles.These in-ground PVC cooling tubes are also known as air tubes, earth air tubes, a ground-coupled heat exchanger, an earth-air heat exchanger, thermal labyrinth, heat recovery ventilation, geothermal energy tubes, sustainability tubes, or a number of other terms.Cooling tubes are an efficient way to cool a building using natural convection and thermal mass principles. They require no pumps or fans, and are completely passive (no moving parts). This also means no electricity bill to “run” them, saving the building costs for the lifetime of the building, which keeps money in your pocket, and …
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10 Beautiful ‘Off The Grid’ HomesMarch 27, 2020
Big cities and luxuries aren’t for everybody. If you’re someone who enjoys the outdoors and a simple life, maybe its time to consider moving off the grid. Its not just for criminals anymore. The Homes and Garden TV network has a show where regular couples and families looking for an adventure rent or buy a home completely off the beaten path. Moving away from vital services such as indoor plumbing, electricity and garbage pick up may be a nightmare for some, but the benefits and experience is drawing people to consider their options. The cost alone is opening people up …
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Do-It-Yourself Solar Hot Water HeaterMarch 27, 2020
NEED A WAY TO ADD HOT WATER TO YOUR OFF-GRID HOME?This is not your quick 6 minute re-heat option but rather one that given enough time can serve up enough hot water for a nice outdoor shower.How much time it takes depends somewhat upon the season and the climate. It is always a good recommendation to insulate the heater to help maintain the warmth.The bad news is, this is a fair-weather friend of a water heater. Because the system is actually based on water, it has to be drained when the weather turns cold.But a nice hot bath does have …
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What is the advantage of a 24v system over a 12v system?March 27, 2020
You can get much bigger inverters on 24V or 48V than 12V. There are a number advantages in opting for a higher DC supply voltage.- For any given load, half the DC current and losses are down by ¼. Reduced fire risk.- Better input regulation. 0.5v line drop at 12v = 4.6% supply drop whereas 0.25 v line drop at 24v = 1.04% drop.- Better inverter efficiency and regulation. i.e. Less losses converting to 240 VAC. An inverter doesn’t have to work as hard to keep its AC output constant.- Larger usable operating voltage window (for acceptable DOD) available from …
Read More…- Track to the Future
March 21, 2020
Trains are a good thing. They gather up people and take them to places in a very efficient way.Trains have opened up continents and developed countries.There is nothing really wrong with trains… except they can only go where there is track.If there is no track, the train does not go… it is not possible.The evolution of humanity on this planet has developed its own track…belief systems, religions, economies, political regimes, laws, codes, regulations…all have become “tracks” to our future.They have opened up continents and developed countries.There is a problem…a changing planet and a growing population have created the need to go …
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Michael Reynolds Video Log for March 19, 2020March 19, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgbPeNvSC8We are doing what a lot of people are doing around the world. We want to share our thoughts on how it is affecting the Earthship Company.We are seeing that because most of us live in Earthships, we are safe and secure but we do not produce enough food, so we are focusing on increasing food production. Off-grid, utility free.
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Day 8 Encounter Earthship – finish tire work, thermal wrapMarch 10, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66ZLW_BaIZAfinishing tire work burialthermal wrapfrontface concrete connection
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Day 7 Encounter Earthship GreyWater – Finish Tire WorkMarch 9, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb9OMKJjwis greywater planter digout frontface foundation details last few courses of tire work
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Day 6 Encounter Earthship Frontface Foundation, Cistern TubesMarch 6, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_XP1FelyEIFrontface tire foundation. Pound these tires with gravel, super tight.Check entire structure, that all walls rise level.Detail water tube to be connected to the cisterns and feed the Water Organizing Module.Use pipe for openings in foundation for waste water lines.
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Men’s Journal: Visit the Greater World Earthship Community in Taos, NMMarch 6, 2020
Sitting shotgun in my friend’s truck as we barreled down the highway, the first sign welcoming us to the Land of Enchantment crested the horizon. It’s a bold slogan for a state, but if one thing’s for sure, New Mexico is certainly aware of its own allure. We road tripped from Denver to Salt Lake City by way of New Mexico. Without much of a plan, we set out to visit some of New Mexico’s most famed features (Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands) as well as its lesser known roadside oddities. As we traversed the state through juniper-dotted deserts and mud-brick …
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Salisbury University students go off-grid this summerMarch 6, 2020
This summer, Salisbury University is giving students the opportunity to go off the grid. Dr. Ryan Sporer, professor of sociology here at SU, is putting on a class specialized in off-the-grid living. Sociology of Off-Grid Living is a SOCI 301/ ENVR 495 course. It will be sectioned off into two parts. Sociology of Off-Grid Living is a class that offers students a unique, hands-on experience that one cannot gain in a regular classroom setting. It introduces students to a minimalist, self-empowering way to live. The type of off-grid living that the class focuses on are Earthships. Earthships are homes that …
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Rebuild safer with Earthships in Bushfire Zones – AustraliaMarch 6, 2020
Recent disastrous bushfires have rebooted debate about how to (re)build in the Australian bush. Questions are being asked about building standards, whether a fire-proof home is possible, the value of fire bunkers when it’s too late to leave, and if we should even live in the bush any more.I suggest homes and community buildings in bushfire-prone areas can be made much more fire-resistant, perhaps even fire-proof, by adopting earth-covered, off-grid structures – known as Earthships – as the new standard.details and more info: https://www.earthshipecohomes.com.auBuilt for survivalHouses sheltered by earth have a higher chance of survival in a bushfire. This is …
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Day 5 Encounter Earthship Thermal Wrap, CisternsMarch 5, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soxs30V1fh8Start the thermal wrap insulation when the fifth tire course is pounded.As the tire work goes up, be sure to use strong lines to keep the tire walls straight. Be sure to check the 1.5″ batter per course.A ‘squishy tire’ will most likely be needed. Watch this video to see how to correct insert a tire in a small space within the tire wall. video live March 20, 9am
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Day 4 Encounter Earthship Tire Walls & Cooling TubesMarch 4, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tarE2DcPjkPounding tires correctly, achieve proper compaction.batter tires 1.5″ per course so the tire wall slightly leans into the earth berm.cooling tubes are set with their final angle and locked into the tire walls.cistern tubes are installed to go through the tire walls. video live March 19, 9am
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Day 3 Encounter Earthship Tire Walls BeginMarch 4, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i97JLdD3FEE Bottom course is leveled in. First two courses use 3/4″ gravel to pound with. Use plastic in bottom of tires of first two courses. Perforate with holes. Use a builder’s level to ‘shoot-in’ either side of the building as the walls go up. Make sure everything is level. video live March 18, 9am
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Day 2 Encounter Earthship Building LayoutMarch 3, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A2kVojUslY Start with a corner of the building, we are starting with the north-east corner. Place a piece of rebar and use construction string. Find the direction the building faces, in the northern hemisphere, a little east of south. Find the east-west dimension between the inside of the first course of tires. Measure from the middle of the rebar pins. Layout the east and west sides, find 90 degree angles to make the building square and consistent dimensions east-west. Measure from the center of the rebar pins. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to create 90 degree angles. Find the south line from …
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Day 1 Encounter Earthship Build Site StagingFebruary 27, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL9gNuDWKbIRough Layout of buildingLeveling of building pad.Delivery of initial materials.dirtgravelsand/gravel mixcisternscooling tubescementconcrete sandwatercardboardplastictireshand toolselectricitysite level
Read More…- A brief history of Earthships
February 7, 2020
For four decades the Earthship has been evolving. We spent a couple of decades evolving the various aspects of the Earthship and trying to learn how to make them work in a reliable user friendly way. This involved…the structure built from largely recycled materialsthe heating cooling aspectsthe electrical systemthe water harvest systemthe contained on site sewage treatment systemthe food production systemAt least two decades were spent just learning enough to make these systems work… period. Then a certain amount of time was spent trying to make these systems reliable and user friendly. We achieved this eventually although they are still …
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How to Pound Tires and Build Tire WallsSeptember 13, 2018
Tire walls are made by laying tires in staggered courses like bricks or concrete blocks. Each tire is filled with compacted earth, so that it becomes a rammed earth brick encased in steel belted rubber, about 95% compacted. A pounded tire weighs over 300 pounds, therefore, all tires are pounded in place and are NOT moved after the tire is fully pounded and leveled. The tires are set on leveled undisturbed ground and pounded in place using a sledge hammer. Each tire takes about three or four wheel-barrows of dirt. The tires are pounded level in all directions. Scrap cardboard …
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An Earthship is a type of house built with natural and recycled materials, with energy conservation in mind. It is designed to produce energy, water and food for its own use.
