Nina von Kalckreuth
"Garbage is gold". This is a statement that one often hears from Michael Reynolds. Almost 50 years ago Reynolds built the first Earthship in the USA. Since then, there have been over 1000 Earthships around the world made mostly of what we call trash. The great thing about garbage, according to Reynolds, is that anyone can find it anywhere on earth these days and you can do wonderful things with it. And that's what he did: The Earthship is a future-oriented alternative to “normal” houses in which people can live sustainably. It is reminiscent of a UFO from the future and consists almost without exception of recycled materials. From the inside, however, the UFOs usually look completely normal: living room, bedroom and everything else you know are there - even TVs.
Also in Germany since 2016 exists an earthship in Baden Württemberg, which was built by many volunteers for approximately 25 residents. A house of this kind costs in Germany so far around 300.000 €, but this price is much more pleasant if it is shared among many residents, such as in the "Earthship Tempelhof".
According to Reynolds we humans need six things to live onthat can be creatively and sustainably integrated into the houses.
How does the earthship work?
- Essen: This is grown outdoors. But inside there is also a greenhouse where even tropical fruits such as passion fruit or avocado can grow even in Germany. In addition, the plants provide fresh air in the house!
- Energy: Most Earthships are powered by solar energy.
- Clean water: Rainwater! Although it is allowed in other countries and the Earthships existing there, in Germany there are stricter rules of the health department regarding the use of rainwater. Nevertheless, the rainwater is used among other things when washing dishes.
- Lodging: The walls of the house are built on one side of a thousand recycled tires, filled with earth. These are incredibly heavy and stable and serve as a thermal storage. Other walls in the house are partly made of old glass bottles in bright colors. The walls also have pipes that provide natural ventilation and create a pleasant climate in winter and summer, without heating or air conditioning.
- Waste Management: Garbage, or gold as Reynolds would say, can easily be used in the home for recycling.
- Waste water treatment: The plants are watered in the greenhouse with rainwater, or gray water from the bathroom, which may contain only biodegradable cosmetics products. The water is additionally filtered and can thus be reused. The black water from the toilet is used in a sewage treatment plant as a biofertilizer.
Advantages?
- Energy and heat is free!
- Sustainable
- Long term cheap
- Ecologically produced
What can you do?
Help with! For example, in new projects like building a primary school in Haiti!
Tour: Almost all Earthships offer tours for the curious. Also in the Earthship Tempelhof there are these! The next management appointments in 2019 are: 28. April, 19. May and 16. June, 13. July, 11. August, 15. September, 20. October, 17. November and 8. December each by 15-16 clock.
Stay : In many Earthships it is even possible to stay overnight. One has the opportunity to take care of the Earthship like a living being. Many people who stayed there described the house as "living and breathing". A great experience for sure!
While there is a rough, universal outline for the Earthship, people around the world have become creative and built their own personal earthships in all shapes and sizes. Unlike usual, garbage here has a special meaning, because fortunately in this case it can be found everywhere and can therefore be used. The Earthship could undoubtedly become the self-sufficient, golden home of the future.
Who is curious ...
https://www.earthshipglobal.com
http://www.earthship-tempelhof.de/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B39HXTkBfy3/
Photo by Pasi Jormalainen on Unsplash
This post was created by the Option Community. Join in and post your message!
