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By Sierra Pape
By Sierra Pape
Earth Day is an annual opportunity we have to reflect and make changes to our carbon footprint. We are surrounded by new materials that will take hundreds of years to biodegrade, including the walls around us. Also, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), only 11% of the energy consumed in this country is renewable. Construction waste accounts for 25% of waste in America. Through solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy, we have the technology, but our home structures and lifestyles have not changed dramatically.
In the 1970s, during the energy crisis, Micheal Reynolds, a New Mexican architect, and environmentalist started brainstorming a way to tackle these problems and created a model for self-sufficient, carbon-free living that could provide for modern needs. His concept is a house formed from recycled materials with a greenhouse for food production and renewable energy powering the individual residence. The idea formed into what is now Earthship Biotecture and he has an entire “Earthship Army” which helps bring these homes into reality. They are all over the country and the world but there are primary communities in Taos, New Mexico, and specific locations where they went on mission trips to help struggling communities that can’t afford traditional housing. There are multiple Earthship homes in Georgia, located in Madison, Royston, and more.
Reynolds carries out his goal through 6 major tenants that are required for “simple survival.” They are as follows: food, shelter, energy, clean water, garbage management, and sewage treatment. Innovation through time allows for each of these to be smoothly carried out in these sustainable structures. Food comes from a greenhouse that dwells in a designated area where sunlight rays fall. The houses provide a comfortable living space. The walls are made of rubber tires rammed with “earth” or mud. Tires are so optimal because they are extremely efficient from a structural status and ensure the building is dynamic with the changing environment. A study done by the University of Madison-Wisconsin proved that they are safe, reliable materials. Some are also created by using cans as bricks or the ends of glass bottles to create beautiful artwork. The designs created with these substances can be astounding. A concrete plaster is put outside the tires to enclose the walls for extra stability. The presence of these homes is possible through the use of convection currents too. They have vents at the base of a structure that can be opened to allow air in. Then, there are panels of the roof that can crack to release and bring air in another way. This creates currents and air conditioning. The thickness of the walls allows for it to be a comfortable space in the winter two when the vents are closed. Energy is produced in a variety of different ways per structure. The majority have solar panels lining the roof that funnel through a lithium battery to distribute to lights, kitchen appliances, and separate plugs. The system for water is just genius. First rainfall water is collected and goes through three filters that lead to the shower. Some water is sent to a fourth filter that is then allocated to drinking water. Once shower water is used it is sent under the garden bed in the greenhouse to water the plants and finally arrives as toilet water. Here is where sewage management comes into play. Blackwater in the bathroom is then flushed to a convenient separate botanical cell outside that grows landscaping or garden beds. Garbage waste is brought to a minimum in environments and most goes to recycling or compost.
A valid question is, “Where do they get these materials from?” The answer simply that trash is indigenous to the planet. Through local sources mainly, they collect plenty of tires, bottles, and cans to create. In Taos, all their tires are sourced from a local tire shop which is a win-win for both parties because it is costly to dispose of tires and more Earthships can be built. About 2.5 billion tires are stockpiled in the US right now and another 2 million are disposed of annually.
Now, they have made it so that homes like this can be built all over the world. They have multiple books on floor plans and details of how to build different sizes of Earthships. In addition, there are two documentaries, “Don’t Flush Your Future” and “Garbage Warrior,” that can be found on Amazon Prime and explain in-depth their mission and the full logistics of the process. There is an academy and internship program for those that are interested in biotecture. They also have an app called simple survival to help with the process and mechanics of the different systems within the homes. And a multitude of webinars and informational videos are on Youtube. “Waste not, want not” is Reynolds' mindset to carry with you everywhere.
Sources:https://www.britannica.com/topic/Earthshiphttps://earthshipbiotecture.comReynolds, Micheal. Intro to Earthship Biotecture. 2019.
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