The Earthship, as it exists today, began to take shape in the 1970s. Mike Reynolds, founder of Earthship Biotecture, a company that specializes in designing and building Earthships, wanted to create a home that would do three things; first, it would be sustainable, using material indigenous to the entire planet as well as recycled materials wherever possible.
Second, the homes would rely on natural energy sources and be independent from the “grid”, therefore being less susceptible to natural disasters and free from the electrical and water lines that Reynolds considered unsightly and wasteful. Finally, it would be economically feasible for the average person with no specialized construction skills to be able to create.
Potential advantages
- Having an earth-bermed home with windows facing the sun is a good idea in any climate where heating is required.
- Collecting rainwater that falls on the roof reduces the runoff impact of the building and may reduce water and even sewer service fees.
- Having a combination of photovoltaic cells and wind generation is a prudent way to provide electricity in many situations.
- Using curved modules as horizontal arches to resist earth loads is a sound structural design.
- On-site processing of runoff water, grey water, and black water using plant beds reduces the environmental impact of the building.
- Rubber tires make a wind- and puncture- resistant wall. They may be safe from outgassing when plastered semi-airtight.
- Rubber tires are usually free and it may be possible to be paid to take them. It also is beneficial to keep them out of landfills or prevent them from being illegally burnt.
- Potential to eliminate utility bills.
- The structure is highly moldable to different aesthetic tastes.
Earthships are built to utilize the available local resources, especially energy from the Sun. For example, windows on sun-facing walls admit lighting and heating, and the buildings are often horseshoe-shaped to maximize natural light and solar-gain during winter months. The thick, dense inner walls provide thermal mass that naturally regulates the interior temperature during both cold and hot outside temperatures.
Internal, non-load-bearing walls are often made of a honeycomb of recycled cans joined by concrete and are referred to as tin can walls. These walls are usually thickly plastered with stucco. The roof of an Earthship is heavily insulated – often with earth or adobe – for added energy efficiency.