The document summarizes key characteristics of Earthship homes, which are passive solar houses designed by Michael Reynolds using sustainable building techniques. Earthships are constructed largely from recycled materials like old tires and bottles. They are designed to be off-grid using solar, wind, and water collection systems. By incorporating thermal mass and passive solar heating/cooling, Earthships require little energy while providing modern comforts. They also include greenhouses and planters irrigated by graywater to grow food with minimal resources and environmental impact.

1. SEMINAR ON –
EARTHSHIP
UNDER THE GUIDENCE OF-
SARIKA MAM
PRESENTED BY-
VINAYAK RATHOD

3. Michael Reynolds (born 1945)
is an American architect
based in New Mexico, known
for the design and
construction of “Earthship"
passive solar houses. He is a
proponent of "radically
sustainable living".

4.  Earthship homes aren’t new – they were first built
in the 1970’s. They have grown in popularity since
then, based around the core concept of living
as sustainably and as close to nature as possible.

One of the key characteristics of these homes is
that they take advantage of passive solar energy
and thermal dynamics. They are also made of a
combination of natural and upcycled materials and
incorporate renewable sources of electricity such as
solar PV systems for the most sustainable home
design possible.

5.  Taking advantage of both of these factors means
that Earthship homes can rely on the sun and the
earth for heating and cooling, maintaining an
optimum temperature in any climate.
 Some Earthship homes are completely off-grid,
being entirely self-contained when it comes to
energy, potable water, sewage, and even growing
their own food. Others are partially off-grid, and
may use a combination of renewable energy
systems and electricity from the grid, and/or
partially rely on public utilities for water and
sewage.

6.  Earthship homes are built to be as sustainable as possible, from
their construction materials to the energy and water they use.
 These houses are built from salvaged waste, such as recycled glass
bottles, beer cans, and old tires.
 An Earthship home typically incorporates a minimum of 1000 tires
for natural insulation. Old glass bottles can provide a stained-glass
effect.
 They also rely on sustainable building materials that are
indigenous to the local area. Using locally-produced materials
keeps transport and therefore greenhouse emissions to a
minimum.
 Furthermore, building with materials that naturally occur in your
area avoids clearing native habitats to grow non-indigenous tree
plantations.
 Earthship homes incorporate a PV solar system, wind turbines, or
a combination of both to generate power to run household
appliances and devices.

7.  Another characteristic of Earthship homes is that
they reuse and recycle the water used by the
household. Therefore, they are designed to recycle
sewage to water food crops and landscaping areas,
and flush the toilets with greywater.
 These structures also incorporate water treatment
systems so that the recycled water is clean, clear,
and doesn’t smell!
 Many people build part or all of their Earthship
home themselves, from constructing floors and
walls from natural materials to
handmade sustainable furniture. There are also
companies that specialize in constructing
Earthship homes.

8. Earthship homes not only look very different from
conventional houses, but they have a number of key
characteristics that set them apart:-
1. Solar power
 Earthship homes use a combination of passive solar and PV
systems to harness the sun’s energy. These buildings are
designed to have windows that are specifically orientated
towards the sun in order to allow sunlight inside and
passively heat the home using solar energy.
 They may also incorporate overhanging eaves that are
designed to allow the maximum amount of sunlight in
winter but block the sun when it is at its peak in summer.
 PV panels are then used to generate electricity to power
household appliances, through solar systems that
incorporate batteries to ensure that electricity is available
24/7, not just when the sun is shining. Many Earthships also
generate electricity through wind turbines.

9.  The combination of passive solar, PV systems,
and wind turbines allows many Earthships to
run the same kind of appliances you would
find in a regular home, from TVs and laptops
to vacuum cleaners, electric ovens, and while
remaining off-grid.
 If you want to learn more about running your
home on renewable energy, take a look at our
guides to how to build your own solar
system and home wind turbines.

10.  An essential part of Earthships’ sustainable water
use is water collection. Not only do these eco-
friendly buildings recycle the water they use, but
they gather it from nature in the first place.
 Earthship homes capture rain and snowmelt, filter
it to make it potable, then gravity-feed the water
into the house. Greywater and sewage are also
filtered before being recycled for other purposes in
the home.
 Once collected, an Earthship home will typically
use the water four times:
-For washing
-For laundry
-For toilets
-To water plants or food crops

11.  In some buildings, the water is used in internal
greenhouses before being used to flush toilets,
and then finally to water external planters. This
makes water use highly efficient: these types of
homes use around half as much potable water
as a conventional house.
 Some Earthships may be connected to the city
water supply for backup if needed, while
others are entirely off the grid.

12.  Earthships require less energy to heat in winter and cool in summer
because of their inherent thermal mass. External and internal walls are
not only thick but also dense, built from high-mass materials to maintain
stable temperatures inside the home year-round.
 This works on a system of thermal mass, where the high-mass materials
absorb heat in warm weather and then radiate that heat into the house on
cold days. In this way, the walls themselves, floors, and sometimes the
roof can act as heaters.
 This effect is strengthened by building the Earthship directly on the
ground and harnessing the thermal mass of the earth itself. Some
Earthship homes add even more thermal mass by layering dirt on the
earth.
 Furthermore, Earthship homes require less heating and cooling because
they are more energy-efficient. These buildings use design techniques
such as optimal window positioning to take advantage of natural energy,
as well as insulation to keep the heat in winter and out in summer.
 Earthship homes typically use large numbers of old tires, often pounded
with dirt, for insulation, and many are also built into hillsides or even
underground to take advantage of the earth for natural insulation.

13.  Another characteristic feature of Earthship homes are their
“wetlands” that can be used to sustainably produce food. A
building may have many planter beds that are watered with
grey water from the shower, bathroom and kitchen sink,
ideal for growing vegetables and other food crops.
 These planters can be outside, in interior greenhouses which
are part of the Earthship design, or both. A combination of
the two means that you can grow food year-round
regardless of the climate where you live.
 This will allow you to live a more sustainable lifestyle and
reduce your impact on the environment by growing your
own food. Furthermore, you’ll be amazed at how great
fresh, organic food from your own yard tastes!
 In many cases, Earthship home “wetlands” support not only
food crops, but also flowers and landscaping for a beautiful
yard.

14.  Because wetlands are critical for growing food
crops, plants and even supporting bird and
animal species, it’s important to preserve these
areas. Want to learn how? Read our guide
to wetland mitigation.

15. 1. Off-grid Earthship.
2. Underground Earthship.
3. Tiny Earthship.

19.  Comfortable temperatures.
 Modern amenities. ...
 Recycled materials. ...
 Renewable energy. ...
 Financial freedom. ...
 Free food. ...
 Inexpensive materials. ...
 Simple construction.

20.  hey may not work exactly as intended if the
climate isn't right.
 May be difficult to resell.
 Expensive to build.
 Hard to adhere to building codes and zoning
laws.

21. Any Queries…?