If living at one with nature, taking energy from the earth, and growing your own food sounds like a dream, think again! Earthship homes are designed to turn this eco-friendly dream into a reality.
What are Earthship homes?
Earthship homes aren’t new – they were first built in the 1970’s. They have grown in popularity since then, based around the core concept of living as sustainably and as close to nature as possible.
One of the key characteristics of these homes is that they take advantage of passive solar energy and thermal dynamics. They are also made of a combination of natural and upcycled materials and incorporate renewable sources of electricity such as solar PV systems for the most sustainable home design possible.
Let’s quickly define two key terms:
- Passive solar: Using the sun’s energy, for example for heating, in a passive way, such as by positioning windows so that maximum sunlight enters the building.
- Thermal dynamics: Using the earth’s natural thermal energy and resources to keep the structure warm in winter and cool in summer.
Taking advantage of both of these factors means that Earthship homes can rely on the sun and the earth for heating and cooling, maintaining an optimum temperature in any climate.
Some Earthship homes are completely off-grid, being entirely self-contained when it comes to energy, potable water, sewage, and even growing their own food. Others are partially off-grid, and may use a combination of renewable energy systems and electricity from the grid, and/or partially rely on public utilities for water and sewage.
How are Earthship homes made?
Earthship homes are built to be as sustainable as possible, from their construction materials to the energy and water they use.
These houses are built from salvaged waste, such as recycled glass bottles, beer cans, and old tires.
An Earthship home typically incorporates a minimum of 1000 tires for natural insulation. Old glass bottles can provide a stained-glass effect.
They also rely on sustainable building materials that are indigenous to the local area. Using locally-produced materials keeps transport and therefore greenhouse emissions to a minimum.
Furthermore, building with materials that naturally occur in your area avoids clearing native habitats to grow non-indigenous tree plantations.
Earthship homes incorporate a PV solar system, wind turbines, or a combination of both to generate power to run household appliances and devices.
Another characteristic of Earthship homes is that they reuse and recycle the water used by the household. Therefore, they are designed to recycle sewage to water food crops and landscaping areas, and flush the toilets with greywater.
These structures also incorporate water treatment systems so that the recycled water is clean, clear, and doesn’t smell!
Many people build part or all of their Earthship home themselves, from constructing floors and walls from natural materials to handmade sustainable furniture. There are also companies that specialize in constructing Earthship homes.
Why are Earthship homes different?
Earthship homes not only look very different from conventional houses, but they have a number of key characteristics that set them apart.
Solar power
Earthship homes use a combination of passive solar and PV systems to harness the sun’s energy. These buildings are designed to have windows that are specifically orientated towards the sun in order to allow sunlight inside and passively heat the home using solar energy.
They may also incorporate overhanging eaves that are designed to allow the maximum amount of sunlight in winter but block the sun when it is at its peak in summer.
PV panels are then used to generate electricity to power household appliances, through solar systems that incorporate batteries to ensure that electricity is available 24/7, not just when the sun is shining. Many Earthships also generate electricity through wind turbines.
The combination of passive solar, PV systems, and wind turbines allows many Earthships to run the same kind of appliances you would find in a regular home, from TVs and laptops to vacuum cleaners, electric ovens, and while remaining off-grid.
If you want to learn more about running your home on renewable energy, take a look at our guides to how to build your own solar system and home wind turbines.
Water collection
An essential part of Earthships’ sustainable water use is water collection. Not only do these eco-friendly buildings recycle the water they use, but they gather it from nature in the first place.
Earthship homes capture rain and snowmelt, filter it to make it potable, then gravity-feed the water into the house. Greywater and sewage are also filtered before being recycled for other purposes in the home.
Once collected, an Earthship home will typically use the water four times:
1. For washing
2. For laundry
3. For toilets
4. To water plants or food crops
In some buildings, the water is used in internal greenhouses before being used to flush toilets, and then finally to water external planters. This makes water use highly efficient: these types of homes use around half as much potable water as a conventional house.
Some Earthships may be connected to the city water supply for backup if needed, while others are entirely off the grid.
Thermal heating
Earthships require less energy to heat in winter and cool in summer because of their inherent thermal mass. External and internal walls are not only thick but also dense, built from high-mass materials to maintain stable temperatures inside the home year-round.
This works on a system of thermal mass, where the high-mass materials absorb heat in warm weather and then radiate that heat into the house on cold days. In this way, the walls themselves, floors, and sometimes the roof can act as heaters.
This effect is strengthened by building the Earthship directly on the ground and harnessing the thermal mass of the earth itself. Some Earthship homes add even more thermal mass by layering dirt on the earth.
Furthermore, Earthship homes require less heating and cooling because they are more energy-efficient. These buildings use design techniques such as optimal window positioning to take advantage of natural energy, as well as insulation to keep the heat in winter and out in summer.
Earthship homes typically use large numbers of old tires, often pounded with dirt, for insulation, and many are also built into hillsides or even underground to take advantage of the earth for natural insulation.
Wetlands
Another characteristic feature of Earthship homes are their “wetlands” that can be used to sustainably produce food. A building may have many planter beds that are watered with greywater from the shower, bathroom and kitchen sink, ideal for growing vegetables and other food crops.
These planters can be outside, in interior greenhouses which are part of the Earthship design, or both. A combination of the two means that you can grow food year-round regardless of the climate where you live.
This will allow you to live a more sustainable lifestyle and reduce your impact on the environment by growing your own food. Furthermore, you’ll be amazed at how great fresh, organic food from your own yard tastes!
In many cases, Earthship home “wetlands” support not only food crops, but also flowers and landscaping for a beautiful yard.
Because wetlands are critical for growing food crops, plants and even supporting bird and animal species, it’s important to preserve these areas. Want to learn how? Read our guide to wetland mitigation.
Different types of Earthship homes
There is a range of different types of Earthship homes, from off-grid to underground and even tiny Earthships.
1. Off-grid Earthship
A classic Earthship design incorporates walls of windows specifically positioned to harness passive solar energy, high-thermal mass walls, and recycled as well as repurposed building materials.
Designs typically incorporate curved walls and rounded shapes. These buildings often make features out of their characteristic building materials, such as showcasing packed earth walls, and design motifs made from recycled bottles.
Earthship Global is the world leader in Earthship building, and has a range of Earthship designs and construction drawings for sale.
2. Underground Earthship
This type of Earthship takes making use of the earth’s thermal dynamics and natural insulation to the next level by going completely underground. These can be more than a little reminiscent of hobbit houses, as if they are organically built into the hillside. In other cases, underground Earthship homes look modern and simple from the outside.
You can even retain the benefits of passive solar by having walls of windows on one side of the structure, with the rest of the home being underground.
3. Tiny Earthship
You can even combine two sustainable building trends – Earthships and tiny homes – and build a tiny Earthship for the ultimate environmentally-friendly house. This example built by Taylor and Steph mode covers just 560 square feet and is constructed from local, repurposed and reclaimed materials.
The frame of the tiny home was constructed from redwood trees that the couple cut themselves from a local grove, and the rest of the materials used were discarded items including old tires, aluminum cans and glass bottles. The structure was also built into a south-sloping hill, burying three of the four walls underground to insulate the home and keep temperatures inside stable.
The interior décor also features reclaimed materials, including old barn wood for the internal walls and salvaged furnishings, and the floor is made from natural materials finished with hemp oil.
Is an Earthship home right for you?
Earthship homes have many benefits, both for the planet and for the people who live in them. However, they are not for everyone.
Building or buying an Earthship home is a big commitment and can involve significantly adapting the way that you live. Therefore, it’s important to weigh up their benefits and drawbacks before diving in.
Pros
The main advantages of Earthships are:
- They conserve water: Earthships protect one of the earth’s most precious resources through rain and snow collecting, efficient use of water, and extensive water reuse.
- They’re hyper-efficient: These structures are designed to be highly efficient, maintaining stable internal temperatures with minimal energy use.
- They’ll slash your carbon footprint: With a combination of passive solar, thermal heating, and renewable energy systems, these buildings use very little or no external electricity, so do not generate greenhouse gases.
- They include sustainable food production: You can grow your own food in outside planters and/or internal greenhouses, using recycled water.
- They use sustainable building materials: Earthships are built from recycled, repurposed, and local building materials to minimize the impact on the environment from their construction.
- They’re easy to build: Earthships use simple building techniques that most people can do themselves.
- They’re inspirational: These unique homes showcase alternative, eco-friendly ways of living that are sure to encourage your neighbors, family, and friends to be kinder to the environment.
Cons
The drawbacks of Earthship homes include:
- They can be difficult to sell: Although Earthships are growing in popularity, there’s no denying that this is still a niche type of home, so you may struggle to find a market to sell your house.
- It’s almost impossible to grow all your own food: You’ll most likely end up shopping for some items in the market, unless you’re willing to limit your diet to seasonal crops that grow in your climate.
- You may be limited in building materials: Relying only on local, recycled, and repurposed materials can limit the design and décor of your home.
- You’ll need to do extensive research: Earthship homes are still relatively uncommon, so your chances of finding local architects and builders skilled in this area are slim. This means you’ll likely have to develop and rely on your own knowledge of Earthship building.
Is it time to go Earthship?
Earthship homes may look strange or even confronting to some, but more and more people are falling in love with these extremely eco-friendly structures. Those who live in Earthship homes can live completely off-grid and at one with nature, often growing their own food and leveraging the advantages of going green.
These unique homes collect rainwater and use it four times in the home, and harness the energy of the sun and the earth as well as using design features to maintain stable temperatures year-round. If you want to live as green as possible, an Earthship is the ultimate type of environmentally-friendly home!
If you’ve enjoyed this article, go ahead and share it with your friends and family so they can also learn all about these amazing buildings.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
What are Earthship homes?
Earthship homes are sustainable and eco-friendly houses that are designed to be in harmony with nature. They were first built in the 1970s and have gained popularity since then. The core concept of Earthship homes is to live as sustainably and as close to nature as possible. These homes take advantage of passive solar energy and thermal dynamics, using a combination of natural and upcycled materials. They also incorporate renewable sources of electricity, such as solar PV systems, to achieve the most sustainable home design possible [[1]].
How are Earthship homes made?
Earthship homes are built to be as sustainable as possible, from their construction materials to the energy and water they use. These houses are constructed using salvaged waste materials, such as recycled glass bottles, beer cans, and old tires. The walls of Earthship homes typically incorporate a minimum of 1000 tires for natural insulation, and old glass bottles can provide a stained-glass effect. Sustainable building materials that are indigenous to the local area are also used to minimize transportation and greenhouse emissions. Additionally, Earthship homes incorporate renewable energy systems, such as PV solar systems and wind turbines, to generate power for household appliances. They also have water collection and treatment systems to recycle and reuse water, making them self-sufficient in terms of water usage [[2]].
Why are Earthship homes different?
Earthship homes have several key characteristics that set them apart from conventional houses. Here are some notable differences:
Solar power: Earthship homes use a combination of passive solar energy and PV systems to harness the sun's energy. They are designed with windows specifically oriented towards the sun to allow sunlight inside and passively heat the home. Overhanging eaves are also incorporated to maximize sunlight in winter and block it during the peak of summer. PV panels and wind turbines are used to generate electricity, allowing many Earthships to run the same kind of appliances found in regular homes while remaining off-grid [[3]].
Water collection: Earthship homes capture rainwater and snowmelt, filter it to make it potable, and then gravity-feed the water into the house. Greywater and sewage are also filtered and recycled for other purposes within the home. The water is typically used for washing, laundry, toilets, and watering plants or food crops. By recycling water and using it efficiently, Earthships use around half as much potable water as conventional houses [[4]].
Thermal heating: Earthship homes have high-mass walls built from materials with thermal mass properties. These walls absorb heat in warm weather and radiate it into the house on cold days, reducing the need for additional heating. The thermal mass effect is further enhanced by building the Earthship directly on the ground and utilizing the thermal mass of the earth itself. Some Earthship homes also add additional thermal mass by layering dirt on the earth. These design features, along with optimal window positioning and insulation, make Earthship homes more energy-efficient and require less heating and cooling [[5]].
Wetlands: Another characteristic feature of Earthship homes is the incorporation of "wetlands" that can be used for sustainable food production. These homes often have planter beds that are watered with greywater from showers, sinks, and bathrooms, allowing for the cultivation of vegetables and other food crops. The wetlands can be located outside, in interior greenhouses, or both, enabling year-round food production regardless of the climate. This sustainable food production contributes to a more self-sufficient and environmentally friendly lifestyle [[6]].
Different types of Earthship homes
There are several types of Earthship homes, each with its own unique characteristics:
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Off-grid Earthship: This is the classic Earthship design that incorporates walls of windows positioned to harness passive solar energy, high-thermal mass walls, and recycled or repurposed building materials. The design often features curved walls and rounded shapes, showcasing the use of packed earth walls and design motifs made from recycled bottles [[7]].
-
Underground Earthship: This type of Earthship takes advantage of the earth's thermal dynamics and natural insulation by being completely underground. Some underground Earthship homes are built into hillsides, resembling hobbit houses, while others have a modern and simple appearance from the outside. They can still incorporate windows on one side to benefit from passive solar energy [[8]].
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Tiny Earthship: Combining the concepts of Earthships and tiny homes, tiny Earthships are compact and environmentally friendly houses. These homes are typically smaller in size, often covering less than 600 square feet, and are constructed using local, repurposed, and reclaimed materials. They can be built into a south-sloping hill to take advantage of natural insulation and stable temperatures [[9]].
Is an Earthship home right for you?
While Earthship homes have many benefits, they may not be suitable for everyone. It's important to consider the following pros and cons before deciding if an Earthship home is right for you:
Pros:
- Water conservation through rain and snow collection, efficient water use, and water reuse.
- High energy efficiency, maintaining stable internal temperatures with minimal energy consumption.
- Reduced carbon footprint by utilizing passive solar energy, thermal heating, and renewable energy systems.
- Sustainable food production through the cultivation of crops using recycled water.
- Use of sustainable building materials, minimizing environmental impact.
- Simple building techniques that can be done by most people.
- Showcasing alternative, eco-friendly ways of living.
Cons:
- Limited market for selling Earthship homes due to their niche nature.
- Limited food self-sufficiency, requiring some reliance on market-bought items.
- Design and décor limitations due to the use of local and recycled materials.
- Limited availability of architects and builders skilled in Earthship construction.
Ultimately, the decision to go for an Earthship home depends on your lifestyle, values, and willingness to adapt to a more sustainable way of living [[10]].
