Earthships

I recently found this video on Earthships. This idea is brilliant! But it is not just an idea. They have been building these all over the world for over 40 years! Everyone should know about this. Educate yourself. Please watch the video. I know it's long, but it's so educational. Your whole family can sit down and watch this instead of a movie.

Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com

If the embedded video doesn't allow you to view it full screen, here is the link http://livestre.am/Jeio

Below is some info quoted directly from the site earthship.org.

An Earthship is a Radically Sustainable Green Building made with Recycled materials.

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Earthships come with all of their own utilities made on site with no utilitiy bills.
An earthship uses little to no fossil fuels to provide for modern amenities. We are simply adapting our needs to the already existing activities of the planet.

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Earthships can be built in any part of the world, in any climate and still provide you with what you need to survive. (with 'modern' amenities, if desired).

Earthship Design Principles

Electricity: from sun and wind.
Water: from rain and snow melt.
Sewage: treated naturally on site.
Heating and Cooling:
from the sun and the earth.
Food: grow inside and outside.

Built with Natural & Recycled Materials

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And here's the man who started it all. Eco Architect Michael Reynolds

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An Earthship, a house made of recycled tires, bottles, and cans in the Greater World Earthship Community outside Taos, New Mexico August 7, 2007...For the past 30 years eco architect Michael Reynolds has been designing Earthships- self-sustained, off-the-grid housing constructed of recycled tires, cans, and bottles. Reynolds regularly teaches Earthship construction to local builders in countries like Japan, France, Jamaica, and Belize as well as providing disaster relief housing solutions...
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"For the past (40) years eco architect Michael Reynolds has been designing Earthships- self-sustained, off-the-grid housing constructed of recycled tires, cans, and bottles. Reynolds regularly teaches Earthship construction to local builders in countries like Japan, France, Jamaica, and Belize as well as providing disaster relief housing solutions to disaster victims in New Orleans and Thailand. Locally, he has developed the Greater World Earthship Community outside Taos, a 633 acre housing development comprised of over 100 Earthships that provide all of their utilities from only the sun and rain. He is the subject of a new documentary entitled "Garbage Warrior", chronicling his fight with government authorities opposed to his building standards that do not support public utilities." - davidhonl.photoshelter.com

There are some really nice photographs over here. The beautiful shower in #24 is my favorite!

Here is a similar photo by Lynnola on flickr.


They have an internship in Taos, NM. I am seriously considering this (although maybe down the road a little).

I want one! Who's with me?