{"id":353,"date":"2008-11-04T03:45:34","date_gmt":"2008-11-04T10:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/?p=353"},"modified":"2019-02-02T17:48:39","modified_gmt":"2019-02-03T01:48:39","slug":"earthships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offgridsurvival.com\/earthships\/","title":{"rendered":"Earthship Homes: Off-Grid Living at its Finest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Earthship<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Okay, I\u2019m not going to lie. When I first heard the term Earthship, the first thing I thought of was an image of a bunch of dirty hippies living in some primitive hut without electricity or modern-day luxuries. But the more we investigated the concept, the more we became infatuated with the lifestyle, quickly realizing Earthships have taken the concept of sustainable off-grid living and kicked it into hyper-drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These funky-looking homes are more than just an internet oddity; they are the next step in sustainable off-grid living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is an Earthship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, the simplest explanation is they are homes built out of recycled materials like old tires, bottles, and tin cans \u00ad\u2013 I know; I\u2019m not helping you forget the image of the dirty hippie living in a dirty shack, but stick with me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The concept was first developed in the early 1970s by architect Michael Reynolds. This image shows one of the first Earthships, a building that was built in Taos, New Mexico using old steel beer cans and soft drink cans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As construction ideas around these unique homes evolved, they soon started being built with bags or tires filled with dirt, something that provides thermal mass that naturally regulates the homes temperature during both cold and hot temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, there are over 2.5 billion tires stockpiled in the United States, with 2.5 million more thrown away every year. By taking these tires that would end up in landfills and turning them into building materials you can make a significant difference to the world. In fact, Earthships might be the future of sustainable building and off-grid living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are the ultimate 21st<\/sup>-century solution to problems that have plagued the building industry, and they take the concept of sustainable living far beyond any other form of “green” construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But do you really want to live in a home made of recycled materials?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it may seem a bit weird at first, the fact is, these homes are not much different than regular suburban homes. You\u2019re still able to have all the modern amenities and luxuries that you would have in a traditional home, but you get the added benefit of being able to sustain yourself without having to depend on the grid or outside services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earthships are fully self-sustaining homes that provide you with food, water, heat and when connected to solar panels all the electricity you need to power your electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of Earthships from around the world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To get a feel for what these homes are all about, check out some of these stunning examples from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brighton
Brighton Earthship, an experimental sustainable development located near Stanmer Park, Brighton, East Sussex<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A passive solar home in Taos, New Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n