How Much Does it Cost to Build an Earthship? (Updated 2023)

Like no other houses, Earthships make reference to the natural world. The majority of Earthships are thoughtfully constructed DIY projects. Here is all you need to know about Earthship.

According to Wikipedia; An Earthship is a style of architecture developed in the late 20th century to early 21st century by architect Michael Reynolds.

Earthships are composed of both natural and recycled materials, such as earth-packed tires, and are intended to function as passive solar earth shelters.

It may include a variety of facilities and aesthetics and be built to resist the scorching heat of the desert, maintaining a temperature of about 70 °F (21 °C) no matter the weather outside.

The style of these settlements, which was initially developed in the desert of northern New Mexico, close to the Rio Grande, has since spread to a few isolated communities all over the world, sometimes against legal opposition to its development and adoption.

Earthship architecture was initially created when architect Michael Reynolds set out to create a home that would satisfy three objectives.

First, it would employ eco-friendly architecture and, whenever possible, local or recycled materials.

It would also run on renewable energy and be independent of the electrical grid.

Third, anyone with a basic understanding of construction could build.

An example of sustainable housing is an Earthship, which is built from recycled or natural materials and intended to be self-sustaining for its occupants.

They often cultivate their own food, gather their own drinking water, clean their own sewage, and are powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

There are currently over 3,000 fully constructed Earthships around the world, most of which are found in the United States.

Earthships are typically constructed off the grid in isolated locations.

Construction And Design Of An Earthship

An Earthship is today a highly economical and self-sustaining building because of research and development.

The six key areas that must be addressed in order to go off the grid are as follows:

• Food production
• Electricity
• Temperature regulation
• Water
• Sewage treatment
• Housing

Earthships have advanced significantly since the first one was built in New Mexico.

When Michael Reynolds developed the idea, he wanted an Earthship to be constructed using inexpensive, easily accessible materials, to be simple enough for anyone without any building experience to create, and to generate energy from renewable resources.

The basic steps for building a V-shaped Earthship are shown below, but the design of Earthships varies based on geography and the materials utilized.

The v-shape is more desirable since the materials used are dense. It is simpler to collect water due to the slant, and the temperatures are more controlled because it is somewhat underground.

Tires are preferred because they are more durable than wood because they are not biodegradable. In addition, recycling tires is beneficial to the environment.

Choosing And Excavation Of a Site

The position of the sun in relation to an Earthship is crucial to take into account.

This is because the sun’s heat regulates temperatures and its light powers the Earthship’s electricity system.

If you want your Earthship to be completely self-sufficient, you might want to think about the soil and if it is suitable for farming.

Make sure your building is not near any wind-blocking features, such as hills or trees, if you’re thinking about using wind energy.

Dig around five or more feet into the ground to remove soil from the location you’ve selected.

You will require more dirt as your Earthship grows larger.

Additionally, the temperature in your chosen area will affect how deep your foundation is; the wetter the environment, the deeper the foundation.

You should maintain the soil from your site because it will be used for development in the future.

Choosing Construction Materials

It’s crucial to take accessibility into account while selecting materials.

Materials are everywhere on the planet, however, each has its own readily available materials.

Because the materials should be as inexpensive as possible, the budget must also be taken into account.

The climate should be taken into account while selecting building materials.

Consider roofing materials that won’t leak if the weather is rainy; in hot climates, it’s crucial to use materials that regulate temperature.

Taking everything into account, these are essentially the components required;

Rubber tires or dirt bags for powerful walls

Recycled cans for interior and upper walls

Trusses or vigas for roofing

Making the Foundation And Outer Walls

The tires need to be spread out first. It is preferable to have two or more people complete this process.

One should pour dirt into each tire, and the other should pound the dirt into the tires with a sledgehammer.

On an average-sized tire, two wheelbarrows are required; however, for larger tires, simply add extra earth.

Note that it’s crucial to learn about local and national regulations governing the usage of worn tires.

One tire needs to be placed between the other two once they have been laid, filled with earth, and pounded, just like bricklayers do.

If clay or concrete is inexpensive and accessible, it can be utilized to strengthen the wall by sandwiching it between the tires.

An additional tire can also be jammed in a line for added strength.

This needs to continue until a straight wall is obtained. If a v-shaped Earthship is an aim, then more tires must be placed in the front and fewer in the back.

Concrete holds recycled tin cans together at the top of the walls.

If concrete is not an option, one can choose mud, but it won’t last very long.

Making the Interior Walls

Depending on the number of rooms required, the internal walls should be built after the exterior walls.

Most people favor tin can walls because they are so accessible.

Concrete or mud, depending on which one works best, can be used to unite the tins.

When done, the concrete-joined tins will resemble a honeycomb.

However, one may continue utilizing stacked tires packed with earth if they prefer stronger walls.

Roofing

The same construction methodology as truss can be applied to roofing.

A truss is a building constructed of two or more wood or metal beams that are joined together to form a triangle or a chain of triangles.

It is connected to a ceiling by roofing materials like dried grass, wooden beams, or the remaining tin cans.

A viga is equally efficient.

Power Production In an Earthship

As was previously said, an Earthship takes care of one aspect of the “grid”: power.

The sun and wind, which both produce clean energy, are the main sources of electricity.

Photovoltaic solar plates are used to harness the power of the sun.

In terms of wind, wind turbines are positioned optimally where winds are greatest.

Deep cycle batteries are used to store the Direct current (DC) electricity that wind turbines and solar panels both produce.

A power organizing module, which is often mounted on the Earthship’s walls, converts a portion of the energy that has been stored into alternating current (AC), which is used by the majority of appliances.

There is no need to utilize power to regulate temperature since the Earthship takes care of its own cooling and heating.

Water Production In an Earthship

Earthships are designed to collect all the nearby water.

Rain or snow may have brought the water.

The room’s slant ensures that water is channeled towards the back of the building, where a gutter with a sieve to catch any solid particles in the water directs it into a cistern.

The water is then sent into a water organization module where it is cleaned of bacteria and other potential contaminants before being made safe for drinking.

Water is then pumped into a pressure tank where it can be used for drinking and other purposes by a direct current pump powered by electricity from the deep cycle battery.

Water that has been used leaves the system as gray or black water.

Grey water is recycled and used to flush toilets and hydrate edible plants.

It is the water from sinks and showers. Black water is toilet waste.

It is sent to septic tanks where anaerobic respiration separates the solid waste.

While the garbage is utilized to produce biogas, the water can be used to water non-edible plants.

What are the Biggest Pros and Cons?

Pros

When you don’t have to pay for utilities, you can save a lot of money.

Earthships are designed to produce their own water, heat, energy, and cooling.

Theoretically, all outside expenses should be eliminated by these residences.

However, it’s crucial to remember that these mechanisms don’t always function as well as they should.

You can do away with the supermarket.

Indoor greenhouses, hydroponic growing systems, and planters that filter gray water are all features of Earthship designs.

Again, in principle, these fittings ought to prevent you from ever needing to visit your neighborhood big-box supermarket.

All that indoor vegetation also enhances the appearance of your rooms.

Compared to conventional home construction, they use less garbage.

Many single-use materials, such as tin cans, glass bottles, and rubber tires, must be reused on Earthships.

Amazing views and lighting are present.

The majority of Earthship designs call for a minimum of one whole wall of windows.

The purpose of these south-facing glass surfaces is to collect heat and energy for maintaining internal temperatures and promoting plant growth.

They also enhance the general lighting in these earthen homes, though.

They have good aesthetic appeal. It’s challenging to discount these eco-friendly homes’ all-encompassing beauty and allure.

If anything, they improve aesthetics. They frequently have the appearance of emerging from the earth.

It is extremely breathtaking, with its smooth earthen exteriors, expansive glass walls, abundant interior plants, and vibrant glass accents.

Cons

Only some climates permit the use of Earthships. Rammed-earth tires are used to construct conventional Earthships.

These materials perform well in hot, arid environments like Taos, New Mexico.

 However, in humid, wet regions, these clay structures are prone to collapse.

Their rammed-earth tire walls cannot withstand frequent humidity and sharp temperature swings.

Sometimes advertise backup heating systems in colder climates. Unfortunately, these systems occasionally burn wood or fossil fuels.

Brand-name homes are called Earthships.

The fact that Earthships are being sold as custom residences is difficult to ignore.

Reynolds might have the best of motives for the world.

However, it’s difficult to see how his name-brand homes can have such a significant impact when they’re sold for such substantial profits.

They might not actually be as green as they seem.

First off, it is important to note that the majority of used rubbish goods are already recycled after being purchased.

As they degrade, several of these products could be harmful to your health.

Mold could be a problem.

Some Earthship residents have complained about mold and algae growth in their homes.

Health problems may result from these problems. It could be expensive to fix them.

All of an Earthship’s interior and external components are interdependent, so when your water system is inadequate…

What happens when there isn’t enough water available in the dry desert to keep things functioning properly?

To keep all of your plants moist, you need enough potable water.

Additionally, water is necessary for drinking, bathing, and cleaning.

Examples Of Earthships

The Simple Surviving Model

The majority of folks choose to DIY this project.

It is the cheapest, is simple to construct, and uses materials that are easily accessible.

Although the principle can be altered in many contexts, it remains the same.

The idea behind the simple surviving Earthship is to serve as a starter residence that you can expand as needed while adhering to the fundamental principles of an Earthship.

The Cobhouse Earthship

Cobb is a building material comprised of sand, clay, soil, straw, and water.

Given that it is seismically resistant, it is ideal for earthquake-prone areas.

Due to its substantial weight, it also offers thermal heat insulation.

Compared to a typical Earthship, it is also more adaptable in use and may be utilized to create dwellings with more artistic flair.

It is still “clean” because it is constructed using natural materials rather than recycled ones.

Anyone can do it, whether alone, with a small group of friends or family, or by hiring Michael Reynolds’ team at Earthship Biotecture.

The Custom Earthship

The best kind of Earthship is a personalized one.

It costs more than any other model, but that is only because it is entirely independent and incorporates every innovation that has been refined through time.

It includes the ability to produce power, catch water, grow food, manage sewage, and insulate against heat.

It is more spacious, has more rooms, and has a more varied environment than any other variety, but it is slightly more expensive.

However, you should give it a shot if you want to save money on bills because it will quickly pay for itself.

However, you would need to get in touch with the Earthship biotecture team, as this is not a DIY project.

Conclusion

Are Earthships another failed counter-culture idea, or may they hold the key to future human existence on Earth? Only one thing is certain.

Numerous discussions regarding environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional post and beam homes have been sparked by these amazing constructions.

Earthships are largely self-sufficient, thus they are off the grid.

They capture natural water, generate their own electricity, manage their sewage, and create their own food.

In order to create the ideal off-the-grid bio-structure with zero emissions, more research is being done.

CSN Team.