Environment and Ecology

An Earthship is defined
by the following six principles:

• Thermal/Solar Heating & Cooling
• Solar & Wind Electricity
• Contained Sewage Treatment
• Building with Natural & Recycled Materials
• Water Harvesting
• Food Production

Comfort in Any Climate
The concept of thermal mass buildings works both to cool and to heat a home. Earthships keep you comfortable in any climate, anywhere in the world.

Earthship Biotecture design principle: 'Thermal/Solar Heating & Cooling' details how Earthships maintain comfortable
temperatures in any climate.

Earthship Book: 'Comfort in Any Climate' 30 pages. Covers how an Earthship stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Details the solar / thermal dynamics of the 'heating and cooling systems' of an Earthship.

The 'engine' of the Earthship:

All aspects of the Earthship concept, the catch water and waste water treatment systems and the solar/wind power systems, are tuned to your climate and your local codes as well.

All systems are in addition to and do not replace conventional systems, where available.

Earthship Book: 'Water from the Sky'
Takes its readers from problem to solution. It addresses the water shortage in New Mexico, the United States, and around the world. Step by step, the book outlines how to solve the problem of water shortage through catching, storing, using, reusing and treating water.

What is your plan? Do you have one?

There are a lot of options...
Do you want to have a private residence?
Do you want to have a demo workshop as part of a larger building for some other use?

You can also apply the 6 principles of Earthship Biotecture to an existing building. This is called retrofitting.

Another option is to send your local builders to an Earthship workshops in the USA or around the world.

Earthship Demonstration workshops

Retrofitting with Earthship Biotecture

Earthship Seminars in Taos, NM, USA

Earthship Biotecture is a concept - not limited to tires - it is a building that will take care of you by encountering and interacting with the biology and physics of the earth.

'BALLPARK' COSTS OF AN EARTHSHIP HOME ARE AS FOLLOWS...
40% LABOR
40% MATERIALS
20% SYSTEMS AND SUBCONTRACTORS

BASE THE ABOVE ON ABOUT $200 PER SF

These prices reflect the fact that you are building your utility systems as well as your shelter. Conventional housing provides only shelter and you pay monthly for your utilities.

LABOR PERCENTAGES OF THE COST FACTOR CHANGE IF YOU BUILD IT YOURSELF.

YOU WILL FIND THESE COSTS TO BE SIMILAR TO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION - BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THESE EARTHSHIP HOMES HAVE LITTLE OR NO UTILITY BILLS SO THE OVERALL MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSE (mortgage payment plus utility bills) IS LESS IN AN EARTHSHIP - NOT TO MENTION THE SECURITY OF HAVING YOUR OWN UTILITIES.

This is not a rigid thing - it is a concept that we help you apply to your specific situation. SECURITY, COMFORT AND "MINIMAL-TO-NO" MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS AS WELL AS USE IN ALL CLIMATES IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONCEPT.

First Steps

You are some or all of the following:

• new to the Earthship
• heard about it, and want to know more beyond exploring earthship.com
• love Earthships, want to live in one and don't know where to start
• on a romantic vacation
• from any type of school or educational facility

Visit Us
Earthship World Headquarters located in Taos, New Mexico.
For $5 you may take a self-guided tour of this Earthship Visitor's Center. There is always someone available to answer questions. The tour includes a viewing of the Earthship 101 video/DVD: An 11 minute introduction to the Earthship concept and is a quick and concise way to learn the basics of Earthship Biotecture. The video is also an effective way to familiarize your builder or your friends with the concept.

At the conclusion of your tour, you may want to purchase our Complete Library set, a selection of Earthship products providing a solid basis of understanding to move forward with whatever project you have in mind. The set consists of: Earthship Volumes I, II, & III , Water From the Sky, Comfort in any Climate, the Earthships 101 video, and your choice of "From the Ground Up" DVD or "The Hut" DVD, and the Earthship Photo CD.

You may even want to arrange for a Consultation with Michael Reynolds. This is a good first step toward learning more about Earthships. We will tap all of our 40 years of experience and resources to provide you with the best answers for your situation (minimum one hour).

Earthship nightly and weekly rentals.
Experience living in an Earthship. Nightly rentals are available in Taos, NM at the Earthship World Headquarters. Fully furnished Earthships with all modern amenities are available, including high speed wireless internet access, digital satellite tv, kitchens, etc. Weekly rates and group rates are available.

Earthship Seminars
Earthship Biotecture offers exciting workshops which will give you hands-on experience building Earthships.

The weekend begins with dinner and a slide show and discussion of the concepts and history of Earthships. The following day begins with a morning lecture; the afternoon is devoted to on-site tire pounding, mudding, and building can walls. Sunday is split between additional lectures and touring a variety of completed Earthships in The Greater World Community, including the Phoenix. The lecture series includes explanation and demonstration of the systems packages, and addressing individual participant's questions. Reviewing the Earthship books and videos prior to the seminar will help you get the most out of this experience.

Second Steps

You are some or all of the following:

• Know what you want to build
• Have a good idea of what it will take to build a building
• Have land
• Have information about permitting and regulations
• Have local climate data prepared for Earthship Biotects
• Have the money it takes to build a building
• Prepared to support a 12 person crew

Host a demonstration project
$2500 to start *
We stage an educational/building workshop over 2 - 6 weeks, to build a demonstration room that can be replicated by local builders while providing a basic education as to the principles and concepts of the Earthship structures.

What you get: The beginning of your Earthship that you can easily finish.
The building is made of local, recycled materials that will catch clean water, harvest its own power, contain and treat its own sewage and provide strong, quick shelter.

Private Residential Earthships
$2500 to start *
Contract Earthship Biotecture to build your home, anywhere on the planet. We can build your Earthship turn-key or you can provide hands-on help.

• Analysis of Local Climate, occupancy use
• Floor Plan: based on climate, budget, planned occupancy use
• Project Plan: team build, local crew, intern program
• Cost Estimates to move forward to phase II

* $2500 to start is your first step, getting your sustainable, independent green home is not cheap. $2500 is an initial retainer.

Commercial Ventures: Contact Us here
Do you have a commercial venture requiring partnership with Earthship Biotecture?

Greater World Earthship Community
A sustainable subdivision started in 1994, 633 acres of rolling mesa with a deep gorge.
Lots Available! "Probably the most intense collection of independent, sustainable housing in the world."

We have 40 years of experience at helping people get into sustainable homes all over the world. We know how to make it easy, safe and step by step.

Thank you for your interest in Earthship Biotecture

Earthship Biotecture
Michael Reynolds
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