Earthships! and Alternative Building - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Seanland · 06-22-2008, 01:04 PM

I recently started reading about sustainable developement for some random reason.. and these puppies came out. I began to read about them and noticed that I couldn't stop.

I someday dream about building my own house.. and I think this would be it. These things are just amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9jdIm7grCY

This link is a 5 min video on the basics of an earthship.

http://www.earthship.net/

and this is a link to Earthship Biotecture, the company that came up with the idea.

For anyone who is interested in sustainable development or alternative, I think they should give it a check. I was just amazed by the concept and thought I should share it.

also, if anyone else would like to put forth any ideas on sustainable or alternative building methods, please feel free.

its amazing what you can do with some left over garbage.

**Placed in the how-to section, to share knowledge of topics.. not politics =)**

amonkie · 06-22-2008, 02:51 PM

I'll point tecoyah to this thread, as we are currently in the process of finishing construction on a straw bale structure, the first in our county.

Here are some pictures of the building progress:

and yes... there are a TON of pics in here:

http://flickr.com/photos/pjchmiel/se...7604143533254/

Seanland · 06-22-2008, 06:32 PM

wow, I looked through every one, thats a nice photo diary you have of the construction process.

I'm curious, why did you decide to go with Straw Bale?

I mean there are so many choices out there.

I think the honeycomb sandbags are also fairly interesting

also, did you require any permits or such?

MexicanOnABike · 06-22-2008, 06:48 PM

"wait, don't drop that cigarette!...." *WOOOOOOSH!*

i seriously hope you have some sort of fireproofing in that house!

back to the OP: that's a cool project to start! i wonder what the overall cost would be.

Seanland · 06-22-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MexicanOnABike

"wait, don't drop that cigarette!...." *WOOOOOOSH!*

i seriously hope you have some sort of fireproofing in that house!

The walls are covered in mud, so it should be pretty much fire proof! =D

If i am correct by the end like 6 inches of mud / lime plaster

Quote:

Originally Posted by MexicanOnABike

that's a cool project to start! i wonder what the overall cost would be.

** Sorry, Thats for an Earthship **

from what I have read for one room, somewhere around 10,000 ... upwards of 200,000 ... depending on size, systems, glass, labour, etc.

The average seems between 20,000 and 50,000 for do-it-yourselfers (including, systems, resources, etc.)

tecoyah · 06-23-2008, 04:25 AM

This building is more fireproof than virtually anything but steel or concrete as the bales will smoulder under extreme situations but cannot burn. The cost ended up about $5000, and almost $1000 of that was the legalities involved with introducing alternative construction to the City, getting the insurance/Engineers stamp/ permits in place. I chose Straw Bale due to its proven longevity, thermal properties, ease of construction, and environmentally sound usage (its usually burned in the field or used as livestock bedding because nothing will eat it). Added to this is the asthetic beauty of the house, and the flexibility in construction.

One of the motivators in this project was creating a legal framework, and acceptance with an eye on low cost housing. As it is, the project has drawn much media coverage, and community awareness...So it seems I have succeeded in this, and become somewhat famous...infamous, heh.

I am now doing the hardest part.....earthplastering.

Charlatan · 06-23-2008, 04:45 AM

I have also heard some good things about rammed earth houses as well.

There have been a few straw bale houses in Canada, if I remember correctly.

Baraka_Guru · 06-23-2008, 05:33 AM

There's an earthship in Peterborough, Ontario. Old tires, pop cans—the whole nine yards...uh, I mean 8.2296 metres.

PonyPotato · 06-23-2008, 05:34 AM

This thread turns me on.

No, really. Crompsin and I spent about an hour talking about home designs and sustainable living on Saturday and it really made me happy. I have lots of ideas, and it's nice to see photos and such of people who have achieved what I'd like to do.

Seanland · 06-23-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

There's an earthship in Peterborough, Ontario. Old tires, pop cans—the whole nine yards...uh, I mean 8.2296 metres.

do you have any links or info? I have discovered about three in Ontario, from my estimates lol...

but not much information on any of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by merleniau

This thread turns me on.

No, really. Crompsin and I spent about an hour talking about home designs and sustainable living on Saturday and it really made me happy. I have lots of ideas, and it's nice to see photos and such of people who have achieved what I'd like to do.

I can imagine, the great thing about them also is most of the materials are flexible in a creativity sense. Your mind is really the limit.

allmywebsite1 · 06-29-2008, 09:49 PM

thank you for posting out ur this idea and information about sustainable development and i wish to go for more..................thanks once again

LoganSnake · 06-30-2008, 08:02 AM

It's like a mix of Biodome and the houses found on Tatooine.

It's nice in concept, but not something I would live in.

Fire · 07-01-2008, 09:49 PM

parents know some people that built a straw bale house- apparently it matters a great deal how one goes about it- 5 years later they are demolishing it due to black mold and a rodent and bug infestation- Humid here in the midwest, and obviously they had some way in....

Seanland · 07-02-2008, 09:00 AM

http://www.youtube.com/user/stophelandis

This is pretty much a set a youtube videos following this one specific earthship being built, they are still building it, and the last video was put up on friday, the 27th of june, so they regularly update it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire

parents know some people that built a straw bale house- apparently it matters a great deal how one goes about it- 5 years later they are demolishing it due to black mold and a rodent and bug infestation- Humid here in the midwest, and obviously they had some way in....

yea, I've heard it is the most important to make sure moisture doesn't get into the walls, or else, it just molds away. I could see so many ways of that happening..

-Didn't wrap it properly
-Didn't coat it properly
-Stacks weren't compressed close enough together

just to name the major ones I could see. Humidity definitely doesn't help.

tecoyah · 07-25-2008, 06:00 AM

Looks like I am famous now....woo hoo

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

LoganSnake · 07-25-2008, 06:16 AM

Whoa! A real life celebrity!

I wonder if any TV celebrities post here.

tecoyah · 07-25-2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanland

do you have any links or info? I have discovered about three in Ontario, from my estimates lol...

but not much information on any of them.

I can imagine, the great thing about them also is most of the materials are flexible in a creativity sense. Your mind is really the limit.

You can do pretty much anything you want. I was inside the building awhile back, and noted there was not enough light in the Loft...so I climbed up, took out three bales, built a buck and put in another window before rebuilding the wall.

The water/mold/rodent issue came about because of poorly made walls, and likely a short overhang on the roof. Just like any wall, you need to do it properly during construction, or it will fail.

dlish · 07-25-2008, 07:11 AM

way to go tec!

when is it due to be fully completed?

tecoyah · 07-25-2008, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlish

way to go tec!

when is it due to be fully completed?

About a month to go...I only have about 12 hrs a week to work on it, and tours/press/curious folk, take up a good 8 of that....heh

ngdawg · 07-25-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

Looks like I am famous now....woo hoo

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Congrats!
Funny enough, a video of the rising cost of energy followed...

Need some art for those walls? *wink wink*

Seanland · 07-25-2008, 10:36 AM

nice job on the video!

the house looks great also..

how do you plan on finishing the floors? earthen finish or, you gonna bring in something else?

dlish · 07-25-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngdawg

Congrats!
Funny enough, a video of the rising cost of energy followed...

Need some art for those walls? *wink wink*

prolly cost him the same as the whole house!

tecoyah · 07-25-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanland

nice job on the video!

the house looks great also..

how do you plan on finishing the floors? earthen finish or, you gonna bring in something else?

I did a french trench foundation, and have started the Passive Geothermal floor. Bare earth leveled/vapor barrier/Sand. I will build a floating frame system imbedded in the sand, and lay tile on top to allow the temperature of the Earth to heat and cool the interior. This combined with the passive solar window area should make it comfy year round.

Seanland · 07-25-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

I did a french trench foundation, and have started the Passive Geothermal floor. Bare earth leveled/vapor barrier/Sand. I will build a floating frame system imbedded in the sand, and lay tile on top to allow the temperature of the Earth to heat and cool the interior. This combined with the passive solar window area should make it comfy year round.

That is very interesting method of building the floor, I haven't read anything on it.

are there any books you would recommend on these houses and the "fixtures" or additional things you have added?

I recently purchased the "Earthship Library" which includes The three earthship volumes, 2 DVDs, 1 PhotoCD, and the book Water from the Sky.

I am currently about a quarter through the third book.. and wow, just some of the science and thought behind the additions to the earthships are awesome. The most recent one that I have read, was on a Thermal Mass Refrigerator.

Are you going to be doing any rain collection?

tecoyah · 07-26-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanland

That is very interesting method of building the floor, I haven't read anything on it.

are there any books you would recommend on these houses and the "fixtures" or additional things you have added?

I recently purchased the "Earthship Library" which includes The three earthship volumes, 2 DVDs, 1 PhotoCD, and the book Water from the Sky.

I am currently about a quarter through the third book.. and wow, just some of the science and thought behind the additions to the earthships are awesome. The most recent one that I have read, was on a Thermal Mass Refrigerator.

Are you going to be doing any rain collection?

We built a shed style roof with coated metal to keep from contaminating the water, and expect about 800 gallons a year from the surface area and rainfall amounts. I will set a 110 gallon cistern behind the building with a sand filter (I do not feel like creating a carbon unit). Unfortunately....after completing the building I noted the tree that overhangs the roof...is a damn Mulberry tree.

Grasshopper Green · 07-26-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

Looks like I am famous now....woo hoo

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Very interesting. How long will a structure like this last?

tecoyah · 07-26-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

Very interesting. How long will a structure like this last?

The oldest still standing is a Spanish mission built around 1500

If I get 500 yrs, I'll be thrilled....dead, but thrilled

ngdawg · 07-26-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

We built a shed style roof with coated metal to keep from contaminating the water, and expect about 800 gallons a year from the surface area and rainfall amounts. I will set a 110 gallon cistern behind the building with a sand filter (I do not feel like creating a carbon unit). Unfortunately....after completing the building I noted the tree that overhangs the roof...is a damn Mulberry tree.

So you'll have fruit juice instead.

Martian · 07-26-2008, 07:31 PM

That's pretty awesome. I wonder how that sort of thing would hold up in Canadian weather.

tecoyah · 07-27-2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martian

That's pretty awesome. I wonder how that sort of thing would hold up in Canadian weather.

About 1000 were built in Canada in the year 2000

In fact Canada and Nebraska were the first in North America to start it.

http://harvesthomes.ca/building/straw_bale_primer.pdf

Grasshopper Green · 07-27-2008, 05:43 AM

So...are you building it for yourself or someone else?

tecoyah · 07-27-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

So...are you building it for yourself or someone else?

Its a Kiva for Mom's 70th Birthday.

Grasshopper Green · 07-29-2008, 05:27 PM

That's an awesome present

shotcreteman · 10-07-2010, 02:47 PM

Ok, here's the deal - I live in Oregon. I am a poor man, but bery capable and clever.
I can build whatever I need/want with shotcrete one way or the other.
In my area (classified,lol) I do not need a building permit for retaining walls 4ft or less high, or for 'accessory' buildings less than 200 sq ft and under 10ft high.
I can do a lot with this - the problem? I need good, strong sheds (Shotcrete/permanent), but area building codes demand I build a house (avg 600 sq ft min., etc etc) before any 'accessory' buildings.
This is a problem. I am super poor, but can do a whole lot with very little.
I cannot afford to build "their" house, that I don't want anyway (alternative building methods), and I cannot afford to buy even a small mobilehome (trailer, RV, etc not allowed).

I need to get around building codes any way I can!
I live alone, have no intention of renting/selling/etc. and intend to retire and die of old age on the property I will be buying.

- Looking for good ideas/suggestions/etc...

ASU2003 · 10-07-2010, 03:43 PM

You might be able to come up with an experimental home and get approval that way. Say you are trying to make a low-cost home for third world countries.

Look into the designs of poured earth homes, and try and make it look 'native'. It might be easier if you are in a desert environment to get approval and make it look good, but I bet you could use some modern, clean, euro design. Or you can go ultra-green. There is a home in my hometown built into a side of a hill. Three sides and the roof are grass covered. The front could be the shot concrete. So, don't try and get around the law, explain why this house would be a good example of how homes should be built. (Insulation, energy usage, fire resistant, bug resistant, sound deadening, light blocking for your mock-up home theater...)
CU.MotherEarthNews.com | View Galleries, Upload Photos - Topeka Mother Earth News

And I'm assuming you know about using concrete to make bathroom and kitchen counters. You may want to splurge and add hot water heat in pex piping in the floors. I think you could make a decent house for not a lot of money that way. There are a few things like windows, doors, and skylights that might cost something, and the design should look pretty cool.

And go to the library and look at magazines or the Internet for cool architecture designs that you can 'barrow'.

I want that house now.

06-22-2008, 02:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	I'll point tecoyah to this thread, as we are currently in the process of finishing construction on a straw bale structure, the first in our county. Here are some pictures of the building progress: and yes... there are a TON of pics in here: http://flickr.com/photos/pjchmiel/se...7604143533254/ __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

06-22-2008, 06:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	"wait, don't drop that cigarette!...." WOOOOOOSH! i seriously hope you have some sort of fireproofing in that house! back to the OP: that's a cool project to start! i wonder what the overall cost would be. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

06-23-2008, 04:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	This building is more fireproof than virtually anything but steel or concrete as the bales will smoulder under extreme situations but cannot burn. The cost ended up about $5000, and almost $1000 of that was the legalities involved with introducing alternative construction to the City, getting the insurance/Engineers stamp/ permits in place. I chose Straw Bale due to its proven longevity, thermal properties, ease of construction, and environmentally sound usage (its usually burned in the field or used as livestock bedding because nothing will eat it). Added to this is the asthetic beauty of the house, and the flexibility in construction. One of the motivators in this project was creating a legal framework, and acceptance with an eye on low cost housing. As it is, the project has drawn much media coverage, and community awareness...So it seems I have succeeded in this, and become somewhat famous...infamous, heh. I am now doing the hardest part.....earthplastering. __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

06-23-2008, 04:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I have also heard some good things about rammed earth houses as well. There have been a few straw bale houses in Canada, if I remember correctly. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

06-23-2008, 05:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	There's an earthship in Peterborough, Ontario. Old tires, pop cans—the whole nine yards...uh, I mean 8.2296 metres. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

06-22-2008, 06:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Seanland Psycho Location: Ontario, Canada	wow, I looked through every one, thats a nice photo diary you have of the construction process. I'm curious, why did you decide to go with Straw Bale? I mean there are so many choices out there. I think the honeycomb sandbags are also fairly interesting also, did you require any permits or such?

06-23-2008, 05:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	This thread turns me on. No, really. Crompsin and I spent about an hour talking about home designs and sustainable living on Saturday and it really made me happy. I have lots of ideas, and it's nice to see photos and such of people who have achieved what I'd like to do. __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

06-29-2008, 09:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
allmywebsite1 Upright	thank you for posting out ur this idea and information about sustainable development and i wish to go for more..................thanks once again

06-30-2008, 08:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	It's like a mix of Biodome and the houses found on Tatooine. It's nice in concept, but not something I would live in. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

07-01-2008, 09:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Fire Warrior Smith Location: missouri	parents know some people that built a straw bale house- apparently it matters a great deal how one goes about it- 5 years later they are demolishing it due to black mold and a rodent and bug infestation- Humid here in the midwest, and obviously they had some way in.... __________________ Thought the harder, Heart the bolder, Mood the more as our might lessens

07-25-2008, 06:00 AM	#15 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Looks like I am famous now....woo hoo Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

07-25-2008, 06:16 AM	#16 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	Whoa! A real life celebrity! I wonder if any TV celebrities post here. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

07-25-2008, 07:11 AM	#18 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	way to go tec! when is it due to be fully completed? __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

07-25-2008, 10:36 AM	#21 (permalink)
Seanland Psycho Location: Ontario, Canada	nice job on the video! the house looks great also.. how do you plan on finishing the floors? earthen finish or, you gonna bring in something else?

07-26-2008, 07:31 PM	#29 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	That's pretty awesome. I wonder how that sort of thing would hold up in Canadian weather. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

07-27-2008, 05:43 AM	#31 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	So...are you building it for yourself or someone else? __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

07-29-2008, 05:27 PM	#33 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	That's an awesome present __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-07-2010, 02:47 PM	#34 (permalink)
shotcreteman Upright	Getting around building codes; shotcrete; LOW cost Ok, here's the deal - I live in Oregon. I am a poor man, but bery capable and clever. I can build whatever I need/want with shotcrete one way or the other. In my area (classified,lol) I do not need a building permit for retaining walls 4ft or less high, or for 'accessory' buildings less than 200 sq ft and under 10ft high. I can do a lot with this - the problem? I need good, strong sheds (Shotcrete/permanent), but area building codes demand I build a house (avg 600 sq ft min., etc etc) before any 'accessory' buildings. This is a problem. I am super poor, but can do a whole lot with very little. I cannot afford to build "their" house, that I don't want anyway (alternative building methods), and I cannot afford to buy even a small mobilehome (trailer, RV, etc not allowed). I need to get around building codes any way I can! I live alone, have no intention of renting/selling/etc. and intend to retire and die of old age on the property I will be buying. - Looking for good ideas/suggestions/etc...

10-07-2010, 03:43 PM	#35 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	You might be able to come up with an experimental home and get approval that way. Say you are trying to make a low-cost home for third world countries. Look into the designs of poured earth homes, and try and make it look 'native'. It might be easier if you are in a desert environment to get approval and make it look good, but I bet you could use some modern, clean, euro design. Or you can go ultra-green. There is a home in my hometown built into a side of a hill. Three sides and the roof are grass covered. The front could be the shot concrete. So, don't try and get around the law, explain why this house would be a good example of how homes should be built. (Insulation, energy usage, fire resistant, bug resistant, sound deadening, light blocking for your mock-up home theater...) CU.MotherEarthNews.com \| View Galleries, Upload Photos - Topeka Mother Earth News And I'm assuming you know about using concrete to make bathroom and kitchen counters. You may want to splurge and add hot water heat in pex piping in the floors. I think you could make a decent house for not a lot of money that way. There are a few things like windows, doors, and skylights that might cost something, and the design should look pretty cool. And go to the library and look at magazines or the Internet for cool architecture designs that you can 'barrow'. I want that house now. Last edited by ASU2003; 10-07-2010 at 03:57 PM..