Global Model Earthship

Global Earthship Model

Most Versatile and Economical building
design in the world.


Earthships are constructed with recycled materials.

Earthships perform as expected -
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 Biotecture is based on 40 years
of research and development by
Michael Reynolds, principal architect
of Earthship Biotecture
.

earthship global plan bookGlobal Model Plan Book
Introduction to the Global Model Earthship. Shows examples of different plan options and briefly explains the features and components included in a Global Model Earthship.

Recent Projects:
(all designs)
- Haiti Disaster Relief [Four day Project Kickoff]
- 2010 Global Model, Taos, NM [now]
- Wyoming Green Building: April, 2010 [tirework]
- Todos Santos, Baja, California [Two bedrooms]
- Texas Two bedroom green building

 

Earthship Sizes
Studio - 800 sq. ft.
One Bed - 1000 sq. ft.
Two Bed - 1200 sq. ft.
Three Bed - 1500 sq. ft.

Construction Drawings
30 pages in color, three sets.
11 x 17, includes five CAD views.
Includes details for trusses and vigas, two hours of free follow up consultation and one 'Ground Up' DVD

Studio - $5,000 / 800 sq. ft.
One Bed - $6,000 / 1000 sq. ft.
Two Bed - $7,000 / 1200 sq. ft.
Three Bed - $8,000 / 1500 sq. ft.

Changes or custom modifications are available at hourly rates.

Call us at 575-751-0462 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

Earthship global model plan

Designed to meet Standard Building Codes.

All of our construction drawings are designed to meet standard building code requirements. Earthship Biotecture cannot guarantee your plans will qualify for a building permit. That is because before granting a permit, building code departments sometimes require changes or additions to architectural plans that have been submitted. Once we mail your final plans to you and you find they require changes for a building permit, we will do them for you at our normal hourly rates.

After you receive your plans and you require modifications, including a redesign of your project or value engineering, Earthship Biotecture reserves the right to charge an additional fee to make these changes. Please note that we mail you your final plans only after you have reviewed them and given us your approval.

Earthships provide security in economically unsecure times.

Earthships cost about the same as a conventional home, but a conventional home does not come with all the electricity and water you will use. A conventional home is bad for the planet, is not strong and uses materials that require a lot of fossil fuels to manufacture and get to your building site.

Earthships can provide you with carbon credits, tax incentives and a higher resale value.

Earthship global model greenhouse
bath_ghouse
batteries
bedroom
bottles
conduit
entry_bottles
greenhouse
kitchen
light_detail
living_room
overview
oview
pom
tirewall
construction
frontface
frontface
bannana plants
food production
overview
tirework
butress
construction
install solar panels
overview
cisterns
Global Overview June
greenhouse
bedroom
food production
entry
solar panels
entry
greywater planter
The "House" as an assemblage of by-products: A sustainable home must make use of indigenous materials, those occurring naturally in the local area. For thousands and thousands of years, housing was built from found materials such as rock, earth, reeds and logs. Today, there are mountains of by-products of our civilization that are already made and delivered to all areas. These are the natural resources of the modern humanity. An Earthship must make use of these materials via techniques available to the common person. In a time when mortgage payments take up 75% of monthly income, homelessness is an epidemic and the stress is becoming a disease, housing must return to the grasp of the individual. Earthship global model greenhouse

We can customize designs to meet your needs. your climate, your aesthetics.

We can consult and guide you through building your own earthship with your local builders, laborers, codes, permitting, etc.

If your county requires that you obtain a building permit, you will need a floor plan, and a local engineer's stamp. These are additional fees above the cost of these drawing sets. Earthship Biotecture can help you locate a local engineer to stamp the plans, and also provide plan development services at our hourly rates

We can retrofit your home with earthship biotecture, so you can live more efficiently in terms of energy, water, economics, etc. When your home is more energy efficient, it becomes more valuable and less costly to operate.

 

two bedroom earthship plan
two bedroom global model earthship - green house at the bottom.

Discuss (43 posts)
kris
Global Model Earthship
Jun 03 2010 07:24:00
I am not a homewoner, nor a land owner, but am seriously interested in building an earthship in the next two or three years. I live in San Jose, CA and work in the education field, so I cannot be too far away from a city. Is this even realistic for someone who can't move to the "middle of nowhere"? There might be some pockets of land around here that would work, so I am still hopeful. Also, do people start acquiring tires and cans years in advance? Overall I am just looking for tips on how I can slowly get this dream of mine slowly started. Thanks in advance! : )
#4557
Re:Global Model Earthship
Jun 03 2010 16:39:09
Hi. I don't claim to be an expert, but I've been following Earthship Biotecture for a few years now. I think the main reasons why most Earthsips are out in the boonies are 1. land is cheap in the boonies, and 2. building regulations are often very lax in the boonies. So, for building an Earthship in or near a city, I think the biggest challenge would be getting approval to build a home that is well outside the realm of typical construction. It may involve costly modifications to the Earthship design to comply with regulations.

From what I've read, tires are not usually difficult to acquire. Companies that deal with lots of tires often have to pay to have old tires taken away and properly disposed of, and so are often happy to have someone come and take them off their hands for free. So no, I don't think it is necessary to start collecting them in advance, and storing them in the open air would be problematic anyway, and perhaps illegal depending on the location. I don't know where people get all the cans. There's certainly no shortage of them, but they often get crushed and/or recycled.
#4560
Diana
Global Model Earthship
Jun 09 2010 17:49:20
Hi there, I am as well from SA and I have fallen over your project via Dana Mrkich newsletter. WOW! Listen, I am thinking bigger here. There are so many people here which live in shacks of metal or wood. I feel this would be a great social project for the poorer part of our country. Empowering again and teaching how to recycle. So let me know if this would be a challenge for you and bring it here to SA. Let those pay who have cash and teach those who have not. YEAH - everything for everybody. D xox
#4604
javy
Global Model Earthship
Jun 22 2010 14:27:49
hello!!! how can I have some info about the earthships, I'm from Argentina and I'll love to built one for me and I can't find any thing here were I live

Thanks!!!!!
#4688
Chad
Global Model Earthship
Jul 04 2010 01:37:05
I read somewhere that newer plans call for vertical glass but this doesn't seem to be the case in the global model. Is vertical glass ever better? Northern latitudes, maybe? I personally like the slanted better.
#4760
drew
Global Model Earthship
Jul 11 2010 20:23:02
what would the advantages and disadvatages be of a global model vs the u-model earthships i.e structural integrity, thermal mass, seismic performance etc.
#4797
OKflyboy
Global Model Earthship
Jul 17 2010 16:51:47
Is the new book still on schedule for late summer release? I can't wait!
#4831
Re:Global Model Earthship
Jul 20 2010 05:19:09
Chad,

The earthship with the vertical glass is the "packaged earthship" which is a previous design to the "global model". Glass is angled to be perpendicular to the angle of the sun in the winter to maximise solar gain. I would immagine for this reason, it is better.

I read somewhere in the blogesphere that they changed it to vertical because the buildings were getting too hot in the summer, but I would be surprised if there is any truth to that. If there was, it has been dealt with now by the integration of the "convection engine" (hot area in the top of the greenhouse section pulling cool air through cooling tubes in north wall) in the global model. Seems to me that this latest design is pretty refined, their 40 years of trial and error are paying off for us now.
#4872
Shahab Uddin
Global Model Earthship
Jul 20 2010 05:21:24
Hi

I am interest in Green house. Its eco friendly, good to know that....wish to get more information on it.

Thanks n grds
Shahab Uddin
Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
#4873
Re:Global Model Earthship
Jul 20 2010 19:42:46
Global Model Earthship Materials
What is the spec for the windows used in the GME? Is it triple glazed? What r-value does it have? My concern is that I don't think triple glazed glass is locally produced and importing such a large amount of glass could be unfeasible.

Also amongst everything that has been done, is there a working r-value for rammed earth tyres.

There is local legislation where you have to prove the energy efficiency of your house when you build it. I scoffed at the idea, knowing an earthship would be waaaay better than conventional housing. However the local building inspector said "that may be the case, but you have to prove it [off the plans]". So I need to know the r-value for the walls. Their default view is that these are like Earth buildings, which they assign the same r-value as concrete (not so good).

Cheers
Rob
earthship.co.nz
#4874
Re:Global Model Earthship
Jul 21 2010 02:58:08
rammed earth is thermal mass, not insulation. so an Rvalue is not applicable. Note that, technically R100 does not exist.

the glazing is standard sizes... usually 46x90 inches or 46x76 inches. Double pane, 5/8" thick (usually).

Concrete is NOT insulation so an Rvalue is not applicable. This illustrates the things one must deal with when getting a permit and dealing with people who are not aware of certain building methods and materials. Technically, conventionally speaking... a rammed earth tire wall is the same as an adobe wall - when dealing with building departments who are new to this type of thing.. Although an Earthip tire wall is 2'4" thick, there is also another 4' of rammed earth, then 8" of rigid insulation ALL around the building... (not the front glazing of course).
#4877
Re:Global Model Earthship
Jul 21 2010 03:27:12
Thanks for clarifying the window thing - I now need to remove 4' of earth from in front of my windows...

I suppose the rigid insulation is the 'insulation as you don't want passive solar gain in the home to leach into the Earth (with a big E). Effecitvely everything inside the rigid insulation needs to be heated up: Thermal mass and ambient room temperature.

It sounds like you use a high-end double glazed window. Typical r-value for this in NZ 0.48-0.63 (or is that u-value?). It sounds like a balancing act of how much glass versus how much cost versus how much thermal performance. Great if you can handle all three.

Cheers
Rob
#4879
julio cura
Global Model Earthship
Jul 23 2010 00:46:52
hi!!! Im from argentine. My family an 5 more broght a land in CORDOBA to make a comunity. we are looking for some information about eco construccions and what you do is wonderfool.
Thanks for evrything!!!
#4893
Bernardo
Global Model Earthship
Jul 26 2010 13:56:28
Hi:

I think all this is so great that it should be in the core curriculum of all elementary schools in the world. It would be the best way of teaching kids about so many things, hands-on, and useful in real life. Education for liberation as Paolo Freire would say.

When will the global model book come out? I believe summer is already here, at least in your hemisphere. I am really looking forward to it.

Thanks.
Bernardo from Puerto Montt, Chile
#4908
rudiane
Global Model Earthship
Aug 01 2010 13:00:20
can somebody put me in touch with mike reynolds. we need to build an earthship in Centurion south africa. need to know where we can get hands on experience. we are a non profitable organisation and want to build our rehabilitation centre in an earth ship.
#4929
Chad
Global Model Earthship
Aug 03 2010 20:19:46
Has there ever been an incidence of radon in an Earthship? I'm assuming not, unless it's built deep into a hill. If so, what would the procedure look like to ventilate? Also, have any tests been done on the leeching of chemicals from the plastic cisterns (BPA or other endocrine disruptors). I know some types 3 and 7 plastics have been known to leech BPA. I'm looking to build in 2012 or 2013 and am stoked!
#4943
Re:Global Model Earthship
Aug 15 2010 00:37:35
earthship.com wrote:
toward the end of the Summer, 2010.

Well, its the end of Summer, 2010. Any more news on when the new Global Module DIY Book will be released?

I'm chomping at the bit, here!
#4994
Re:Global Model Earthship
Aug 16 2010 02:35:45
I hear you OKflyboy, I'm ready to get mine also, I'm having a delay on my build but still want the book ASAP. Maybe it will be out by the end of the month.
#5002
Herti
Global Model Earthship
Aug 16 2010 17:47:10
Hello,
I saw the earthships first today a few minutes ago in Germany tv. Thats such a great thing! Thx for that impressions. If there is any interest in a painting for your houses: I will spend one or more of mine just to say thank you for being a part of earth and not the "master".
Michael
#5009
peteryin
Global Model Earthship
Aug 19 2010 04:04:32
hello,i do like the earthship,and i am very interested in what you are doing.i am in china,how can i get the earthship volume book? waiting for your response!
#5036
Re: Global Model Earthship
Aug 19 2010 16:03:29
#5040
Re: Global Model Earthship
Aug 19 2010 22:26:11
mooy wrote:
Buy online.
earthship.com/education/earthship-books/...-build-your-own.html
Or on ebay.


Well, if he's wanting the existing books, then that will do. Although I'd recommend he also purchase Vol.s 2 and 3, as there were many refinements made throughout the years.

However, the book that's been discussed lately, is a book dedicated to constructing the new Global Model Earthship, and was supposed to be release "end of summer 2010" but so far there is no word on its official release...
#5042
Re:Global Model Earthship
Aug 20 2010 05:02:32
Ok, I would like a copy of the new Global Model Earthship book as much as everyone else. But I just got to interject something here. Have you ever been to the Earthship World Headquarters? Have you been paying attention to what Mr Reynolds has been involved in this past year? Mike is one amazing individual, some even call him their hero. He is definitely a man of vision. Has been for years. Mike is one of the busiest men I know and his staff are equally as busy. Where does he even find time to put a book like this together.

The detail in the book we are all waiting for will be intense, but it needs to be correct. Let's not rush a good thing. You might even be able to build your own GM2, or will it be GM3 by the time the books is out, with the attention to detail in this book. The best things in life are worth waiting for. So I have my CCard ready as soon as it is posted here it is ready to purchase, just like many of you.

So who is ready to build a GM2? We are getting closer to starting ours in Kansas City.
#5044
Re:Global Model Earthship
Aug 20 2010 13:26:50
Greenman_KC wrote:
Ok, I would like a copy of the new Global Model Earthship book as much as everyone else. But I just got to interject something here. Have you ever been to the Earthship World Headquarters? Have you been paying attention to what Mr Reynolds has been involved in this past year? Mike is one amazing individual, some even call him their hero. He is definitely a man of vision. Has been for years. Mike is one of the busiest men I know and his staff are equally as busy. Where does he even find time to put a book like this together.

The detail in the book we are all waiting for will be intense, but it needs to be correct. Let's not rush a good thing.


Easy Tiger...

Yes, I've been to the EB Headquarters twice over the past 10 years. I'm not giving Mr Reynolds any grief over the delay on getting the book out, its all just good natured ribbing. As I stated a few pages ago. When last I asked (Several years ago) if there would be anymore DIY-oriented books, since the first three were outdated considering all the innovations that had come out of EB, I was saddened to be told that there were no plans for any new DIY books at that time. So now that there is going to be a new book, I'm just really excited!
#5046
Re:Global Model Earthship
Aug 20 2010 23:20:12
Well then, we can all be excited together.
#5048
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