Begin Here

Earthships can be built anywhere in the world, in any climate.

Earthships will keep you comfortable in any climate in the world with little to no utility bills / fossil fuels.

Make sure you understand what makes an Earthship an Earthship.

An Earthship is defined
by the following six principles:

 

Earthship Design Principles

Comfort in Any Climate
The concept of thermal mass buildings works both to cool and to heat a home. Earthships keep you comfortable in any climate, anywhere in the world.

Earthship Biotecture design principle: 'Thermal/Solar Heating & Cooling' details how Earthships maintain comfortable
temperatures in any climate.

Earthship Book: 'Comfort in Any Climate' 30 pages. Covers how an Earthship stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Details the solar / thermal dynamics of the 'heating and cooling systems' of an Earthship.

Earthship Solar Thermal Dynamics

The 'engine' of the Earthship:

All aspects of the Earthship concept, the catch water and waste water treatment systems and the solar/wind power systems, are tuned to your climate and your local codes as well.

All systems are in addition to and do not replace conventional systems, where available.

Earthship Book: 'Water from the Sky'
Takes its readers from problem to solution. It addresses the water shortage in New Mexico, the United States, and around the world. Step by step, the book outlines how to solve the problem of water shortage through catching, storing, using, reusing and treating water.

What is your plan? Do you have one?

There are a lot of options...
Do you want to have a private residence?
Do you want to have a demo workshop as part of a larger building for some other use?

You can also apply the 6 principles of Earthship Biotecture to an existing building. This is called retrofitting.

Another option is to send your local builders to an Earthship workshops in the USA or around the world.

Earthship Systems Plan

Earthship Demonstration workshops

Retrofitting with Earthship Biotecture

Earthship Seminars in Taos, NM, USA

Earthship Biotecture is a concept - not limited to tires - it is a building that will take care of you by encountering and interacting with the biology and physics of the earth.

'BALLPARK' COSTS OF AN EARTHSHIP HOME ARE AS FOLLOWS...
40% LABOR
40% MATERIALS
20% SYSTEMS AND SUBCONTRACTORS

Earthship Modular Overview

BASE THE ABOVE ON ABOUT $200 PER SF

These prices reflect the fact that you are building your utility systems as well as your shelter. Conventional housing provides only shelter and you pay monthly for your utilities.

LABOR PERCENTAGES OF THE COST FACTOR CHANGE IF YOU BUILD IT YOURSELF.

YOU WILL FIND THESE COSTS TO BE SIMILAR TO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION - BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THESE EARTHSHIP HOMES HAVE LITTLE OR NO UTILITY BILLS SO THE OVERALL MONTHLY LIVING EXPENSE (mortgage payment plus utility bills) IS LESS IN AN EARTHSHIP - NOT TO MENTION THE SECURITY OF HAVING YOUR OWN UTILITIES.

This is not a rigid thing - it is a concept that we help you apply to your specific situation. SECURITY, COMFORT AND "MINIMAL-TO-NO" MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS AS WELL AS USE IN ALL CLIMATES IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONCEPT.

Earthship Global Model plan
If you are ready to begin the Earthship Experience, following are starting points that can help you decide what you want to do and how to prepare and actually begin your project.

First Steps

You are some or all of the following:

  • new to the Earthship
  • heard about it, and want to know more beyond exploring earthship.com
  • love Earthships, want to live in one and don't know where to start
  • on a romantic vacation
  • from any type of school or educational facility

Visit Us
Earthship World Headquarters located in Taos, New Mexico.
For $5 you may take a self-guided tour of this Earthship Visitor's Center. There is always someone available to answer questions. The tour includes a viewing of the Earthship 101 video/DVD: An 11 minute introduction to the Earthship concept and is a quick and concise way to learn the basics of Earthship Biotecture. The video is also an effective way to familiarize your builder or your friends with the concept.

At the conclusion of your tour, you may want to purchase our Complete Library set, a selection of Earthship products providing a solid basis of understanding to move forward with whatever project you have in mind. The set consists of: Earthship Volumes I, II, & III , Water From the Sky, Comfort in any Climate, the Earthships 101 video, and your choice of "From the Ground Up" DVD or "The Hut" DVD, and the Earthship Photo CD.

You may even want to arrange for a Consultation with Michael Reynolds. This is a good first step toward learning more about Earthships. We will tap all of our 40 years of experience and resources to provide you with the best answers for your situation (minimum one hour).

Earthship nightly and weekly rentals.
Experience living in an Earthship. Nightly rentals are available in Taos, NM at the Earthship World Headquarters. Fully furnished Earthships with all modern amenities are available, including high speed wireless internet access, digital satellite tv, kitchens, etc. Weekly rates and group rates are available.

Earthship Seminars
Earthship Biotecture offers exciting workshops which will give you hands-on experience building Earthships.

The weekend begins with dinner and a slide show and discussion of the concepts and history of Earthships. The following day begins with a morning lecture; the afternoon is devoted to on-site tire pounding, mudding, and building can walls. Sunday is split between additional lectures and touring a variety of completed Earthships in The Greater World Community, including the Phoenix. The lecture series includes explanation and demonstration of the systems packages, and addressing individual participant's questions. Reviewing the Earthship books and videos prior to the seminar will help you get the most out of this experience.

owner built earthship

phoenix earthship

Second Steps

You are some or all of the following:

  • Know what you want to build
  • Have a good idea of what it will take to build a building
  • Have land
  • Have information about permitting and regulations
  • Have local climate data prepared for Earthship Biotects
  • Have the money it takes to build a building
  • Prepared to support a 12 person crew

Host a demonstration project
$2500 to start *
We stage an educational/building workshop over 2 - 6 weeks, to build a demonstration room that can be replicated by local builders while providing a basic education as to the principles and concepts of the Earthship structures.

What you get: The beginning of your Earthship that you can easily finish.
The building is made of local, recycled materials that will catch clean water, harvest its own power, contain and treat its own sewage and provide strong, quick shelter.

Owner Builder Earthship

Private Residential Earthships
$2500 to start *
Contract Earthship Biotecture to build your home, anywhere on the planet. We can build your Earthship turn-key or you can provide hands-on help.

  • Analysis of Local Climate, occupancy use
  • Floor Plan: based on climate, budget, planned occupancy use
  • Project Plan: team build, local crew, intern program
  • Cost Estimates to move forward to phase II

* $2500 to start is your first step, getting your sustainable, independent green home is not cheap. $2500 is an initial retainer.

Commercial Ventures: Contact Us here
Do you have a commercial venture requiring partnership with Earthship Biotecture?

Greater World Earthship Community
A sustainable subdivision started in 1994, 633 acres of rolling mesa with a deep gorge.
Lots Available! "Probably the most intense collection of independent, sustainable housing in the world."

Owner Builder Earthship

We have 40 years of experience at helping people get into sustainable homes all over the world. We know how to make it easy, safe and step by step.

Thank you for your interest in Earthship Biotecture

Earthship Biotecture
Michael Reynolds
biotecture@earthship.com

Discuss (21 posts)
gaurdianAQ
Begin Here
Apr 14 2010 21:40:17
I wanna live in one of these so badly now! My friend got me into the idea... I think he is going to a seminar on them.... so what if you go through a dry season does that mean you don't always have water or is the same water recycled? I might get the books... lol forget college if I could sustain myself in one of these with a part time job I would be fine with that...
#3978
Re:Begin Here
Apr 30 2010 03:18:16
I'm on the build it as I can afford it plan. So I got the land. Now collecting tires. Once I get the tractor with a loader I'll start on leveling the building site and building the walls.

Then I'll add roofs to the U's as I can afford it. And of course finish the walls and work on adobe floors. I might go with just finish a 1 or 2 U's at time so I have something to live in besides Cabover campers.

The good thing is my future neighbor is a pop drinking addict so I think he will take care of the cans for me.

I also noticed plenty of beer bottles on the side of the road. It looks like the miners tossed them out the window when they got of work from mines. Maybe one day I'll pick them up for the bottle work.


Zak
Winnemucca, NV
#4233
Dev
Begin Here
May 22 2010 14:02:05
Thank you for all the resources on your website! They have been very helpful in educating my friends/family and community peers about Earthship Biotecture. I am helping a group called LoveLovingLove to gather signatures and propose a buildsite in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. It has been "abandoned" for at least the last 3 years. They are doing a great thing for our urban environment and we all can't wait to start building with the tires filling the lot itself : )
petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?History

Dev
Ambler, PA
#4440
arqtech
Begin Here
Jun 01 2010 02:23:59
HI
I'M ARCHITECT CARLOS CALLEJA FROM VERACRUZ, MEXICO. I SAW TWO WEEKS AGO YOUR PAGE AND IT'S AWSOME, I LOVE EARTHSHIP, IT'S INCREDIBLE, CONGRATULATIONS YOU GUYS. BUT I HAVE A QUESTION, HOW DOES A HOME LIKE THIS WORK IN AN EARTHQUAKE, WHICH IS YOUR STRUCTURE CONCEPT, CAN I BUID A HOME LIKE THIS IN A CITY THAT HAS 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR A LITTLE DEMOSTRAITION OF HURRICANES, WE CALLED THEM "NORTHS". PLEAS ANSWER ME I'M A FAN OF ALL OF YOU...SORRY MY ENGLISH, I'M A LITTLE DUSTY
#4518
zypher
Begin Here
Jun 19 2010 16:08:29
I want to build an earthship in Tn. We experience tornados quite often. Any info regarding sturdiness suring tornados?
#4672
Re: Begin Here
Jun 19 2010 18:24:18
From what I can figure if your windows are not polycarbonate, that is what would break in a tornado. Other than that every thing else should be left standing and fine.
#4673
Begin Here
Jun 27 2010 18:24:10
Hey zypher, I live in TN also, if we dont live too far apart maybe we can get together and talk about the Earthships. I dont know anyone who knows about them around here. It sure would be nice to have someone on the same level to talk with. I live in Chapel Hill, TN. I have been looking into this for many years. I even stayed in one for one night in NM about 16 years ago. my email is; scottvor2001@yahoo.com
#4702
Gustaf
Begin Here
Jun 29 2010 16:02:00
Hi, I live in Sweden (not Switzerland) which is rather cold country. As I've understood, the earthship takes advantage of the earth's constant temperature (58 F) a bit under it's surface, making it quite easy to warm up/cool down. But how deep will you have to dig? Here in Sweden the ground freezes at the depth of 1-2 meters.
#4712
logicalgambitt
Begin Here
Jul 01 2010 18:27:59
ZZAAAK i AM ALSO LOOKING into building an earthship in WINNEMUCCA off of muddy raod please post if you have any regional issues that you are compinsating for in that area

Michael Hardin
#4741
InSpire
Begin Here
Jul 03 2010 00:11:34
LET's STOP & imagine WHAT IF our thoughts co-create collectively
& INSTEAD we consciously co-create the World wanted conceptually
THEN STOP declaring we'll never fix world problems or live peacefully
& INSTEAD choose life as we know it today no longer exists thankfully
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP & relax for one moment taking three big deep breaths
& INSTEAD allow ourselves to fully explore this visioning in-depth
THEN STOP any resistance or old beliefs arising as vision unfolds
& INSTEAD give yourself permission & freedom to sweetly behold
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP enforcing deceitful systems & practices lacking integrity
& INSTEAD rebuild communities supporting local sustainability
THEN STOP fixing outdated regimes built on lies, greed & profitability
& INSTEAD start from scratch developing world-wide prosperity
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP to identify & remove modus operandi no longer befitting
& INSTEAD pool talents & resources, encouraging new dreaming
THEN STOP perpetual unsustainable wasteful consumption scheming
& INSTEAD free renewable green solutions developed by global teaming
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP waronomics sacrilegious killing all for profit & greed
& INSTEAD help Humanity become respected, liberated & freed
THEN STOP War on Terror intricately political & financially contrived
& INSTEAD create a Resource-Based Economy collectively derived
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP continuous depletion of Earth's most treasured resources
& INSTEAD reuse, recycle & build products warranted for afterlife sources
THEN STOP GMO's destruction of Earth's precious Kingdoms, no remorse
& INSTEAD stimulate local food production & highest good of all life-force
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP hostility, conflict, discord, controversy & strife addiction
& INSTEAD extend kindness, forgiveness, charity & compassion
THEN STOP military, financial, religious, government, & corporations
& INSTEAD promote individual growth, mentoring & re-education
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP fearing poverty, there's plenty to go around exponentially
& INSTEAD generosity begets more, our heart's connected intricately
THEN STOP wasting precious time hurting each others basic-101 security
& INSTEAD release suppressed medical cures & secreted technology
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP tolerating harmful abuse touted in the name of a religion
& INSTEAD govern under LAW OF ONE holistic spiritual foundation
THEN STOP perpetuating disparaging division & illusion of separation
& INSTEAD implement service to others - as ONE Unified Global Vision
Together, we can co-create the World we want

LET's STOP depreciating Humanity, horribly wrong & truly no fun
& INSTEAD choose personal responsibility no matter what comes
THEN STOP feeling dejected & afraid of being personally shunned
& INSTEAD take on visioning process & not quitting until it's DONE
Together, YES WE CAN co-create the World we want
#4749
wayne
Begin Here
Jul 04 2010 20:51:08
hey i love all of this sooo much .. i'm clearing a spot of land and building a one U all by hand .. i live in atlantic canada and i don't think there are any earthships here .. if my one U works then i'm going to try and build small backyard "shed like" earthships until i can save enough to invest in power, water, sewage, food and more U's !! i'll keep you updated thx for being awesome
#4761
Alex
Begin Here
Jul 13 2010 10:28:07
It's possible to build an Earthship in Romania (Eastern Europe), under your guidance ,I am seriously considering one in the future years.

What are the costs for the global model adapted to rainy/4 season regions.
when will the globalmodel manual be released?.
Regards,
Alex
Romania
#4808
Re:Begin Here
Jul 14 2010 07:29:03
please send an email to biotecture@earthship.com
#4811
Buddha
Begin Here
Jul 21 2010 03:42:47
The idea of a self sustainable home is great,but the price to build one if far out
of reach for those who are poor.
#4880
Re:Begin Here
Jul 21 2010 05:04:38
Labor is about 1/2. Our mission is to Put Housing Back Into the Hands of the People... Earthship can be built by the people, by ALL kinds of people.

Or, you can hire a company to build for you, which does cost more money. However, Earthship cost about 2 - 5 percent more than a conventional home. An Earthship comes with ALL of its own utilities for the LIFE OF THE HOME. A conventional home requires monthly payments for utilities.

A conventional home is MUCH more expensive for the people and MUCH harsher on the planet. So a conventional home is paid for dearly by our generation, our children's generation and their children's generation - health care costs from pollution and chemicals, costs for continued support of massive conventional (centralized) systems - and the costs to clean up the planet and support and environment worldwide that is continuously attacked by humanity.

In Summary, Earthships help to support people to become independent of the economy... therefore people living in earthships and therefore towns, cities and countries of earthships become the wealthiest and most in-sync with and supportive of the earth.
#4881
Avery
Begin Here
Aug 01 2010 21:36:01
i just wanna be apart of this in anyway possible. im and artist/musician/writer and am willing to help build on almost any earthship project as an apprentice/intern. Paid or unpaid i just want to help be a part of something that makes me feel a sense of security. and working toward self sufficiency seems to be the only answer.
please email attheendofyou@yahoo.com if you have any advise or would like to discuss views on the current human condition.
Avery
#4933
Avery
Begin Here
Aug 01 2010 21:36:51
i just wanna be apart of this in anyway possible. im and artist/musician/writer and am willing to help build on almost any earthship project as an apprentice/intern. Paid or unpaid i just want to help be a part of something that makes me feel a sense of security. and working toward self sufficiency seems to be the only answer.
please email attheendofyou@yahoo.com if you have any advise or would like to discuss views on the current human condition.
Avery
#4934
crystal
Begin Here
Aug 03 2010 06:42:58
I'm 17 and have been interested in Earthships since I was a little girl. I've been vegetarian since I was 4 and have been growing my own food for about 3 years. I've been saving up for a big slice of land somewhere in the mountains. Maybe Idaho? I'm not sure. I was wondering where the best place would be to build one. I want this to be my first and only home. I want my future kids to grow up learning how to be self-sufficient and conscious about their surroundings. Where would be the best place to build one? I'm looking for a place with good soil, visually aesthetic, and not extremely far from civilization but far enough to be comfortable.
#4940
Nic
Begin Here
Aug 07 2010 13:55:01
Hi there everyone
Ive been following the progress of earthships over the years and collect idea's for sustainable living, renewable energy etc for when i eventually build my earthship.
These concepts have always made sense to me and find modern living almost unconfortably awkward with dependence on centralised services and the millions of rules that cripple mankinds development.
Anyhoo, as a South African living in London, not the best place to build an earthship I might add, im gathering all the information now for when i eventually design and build my dream home.
As a designer i'm always toying with idea's and new concepts and one thing I intend to incorporate into my home is an Aquaponics system for efficient fish and veg production.
So what on earth is that you might ask...
It is effectively the combination of Aquaculture (fish farming) and Hydroponics (growing plants in water)
This can be built on a varying scale from a unit on your window cill, like I have now, or a farm sizes commercial enterprise.
This way of growing food and recycling water is totally organic and ideally suited to sustainable living and earthship and for those who havent come accross it before, I might suggest giving it a look.
There are many very good resources online and with production efficiency massively outstripping growing in soil, this is becoming more and more popular.
Hoping to be able to join the internship program some time.
For those of you who arent familliar with Aquaponcs, thought I would bring it up
Hope this helps and people find it useful
Best regards
Nic

ps. Mike, you are the man!
When you step up on that stage to collect your contributions to humanity award one day....rest assured, we all knew it would happen!
#4960
Pooja
Begin Here
Aug 16 2010 10:27:51
whay is the construction cost of these beauties???
I'm soooo amazed by the idea!! WOW!!
I live here in India, in Mumbai City! and would LOVE to build an earthship.. how and how much does it cost are the questions.
Please help!
poojahg@yahoo.com
#5005
Vivek
Begin Here
Aug 17 2010 07:56:36
Hey!I am from Bangalore,India.I feel such sustainable homes is what we need for the future cause we dont know whats gonna happen soon hyperinflation?A lot of money goes for building unsustainable homes in these parts of the world.I would like to know what is the solution for building Earthships in densely populated countries like India.How much of land is required and so on?
#5022

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