Six Basic principals

e a r t h s h i p s w e d e n . c o m

T H E B A S I C P R I N C I PA L S

1 . R E C Y C L I N G

2 . H E A T I N G

3 . E N E R G Y

4 . W A T E R

5 . S E W A G E

6 . G R E E N H O U S E

EARTHSHIP 1

THE BASIC PRINCIPALS 2

1. RECYCLING 3-9

Tires 4 Aluminum cans & plastic bottles 5 Glass bottles 6 Metal sheets 7

2. HEATING 9

What is thermal mass? 10 How is thermal mass used? 11 What sources of temperature is used? 12 How is an Earthship heated? 13-16 Bufferzone - greenhouse 17 How is an Earthship heated ? 18

3. ENERGY 20

Electricity from photovoltaic 21 POM 22 Heating water with solar panels 23 Energy consumption 24

4. WATER 27 Silt filter 28 Water cisterns 29 WOM 30

5. SEWAGE 32

Reusing fresh water 33 Grey water treatment 34-35 Black water treatment 36-37

6. GREENHOUSE 39

Food production 40-42 Green House 43-44

EARTHSHIPS AROUND 45 THE WORLD

A GREEN ALTERNATIVE 46

CONTACT INFORMATION 47

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

E A R T H S H I P

Earthships are completely self-sufficient houses built with by-products of society, namely recycled materials. An

Earthship is self-sufficient in electricity, heat, water and manages its own wastewater. The house uses natural

phenomena to heat and cool the indoor climate. The building is powered exclusively by renewable energy from

the modern solar and wind technology and has an integrated water harvesting system that provides clean

drinking water. An Earthship reuses the household water and the sewage water is cleaned and treated by plants

that grow in botanical cells. Exotic fruit and vegetables are grown all year round in the favorable indoor climate.

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They are built with recycled materials

They use “thermal mass” to maintain

comfortable temperatures in any

climate

They produce their own electricity with

energy from the sun and wind They catch water from the sky

They contain, use and treat all

household sewage

They produce fruit and vegetables

indoors all year around

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E A R T H S H I P S C O N S I S T O F 6

B A S I C P R I N C I P A L S

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THEY ARE BUILT WITH RECYCLED

MATERIALS

An Earthship is built out of

various recycled materials.

These recycled materials are

used as building components:

TIRES

ALUMINIUM CANS

PLASTIC BOTTLES

GLASS BOTTLES

METAL SHEETS

CARDBOARD

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1

1

Wall under construction

Finnish wall 4

The walls are constructed by stacking rows

of tires filled with compacted soil on top of

each other and displace them. They form

large, load-bearing walls that are virtually

indestructible. A well-filled tire weighs

over 135 kg. The walls are then covered

with several layers of cement plaster on

the inside and the outside wall is covered

with more compacted soil. Recycled

cardboard is used in the base of the tires

to keep the earth from falling out.

T I R E S & C A R D B O A R D

1 5

Aluminum cans and plastic bottles are

used to build walls inside the house. These

walls are built by using cans as bricks and

alternating with one layer of cement, just

like a traditional brick wall. Cans and

bottles are used in order to minimize the

amount of cement that is needed.

A L U M I N I U M C A N S &

P L A S T I C B O T T L E S

Can wall under construction

Finish can walls

1 6

Glass bottles are used to build walls that

are not bearing. These are constructed by

placing layers of cement and glass bottles

on top of each other. The ends of two glass

bottles are taped together in order to let

light through. With glass bottles, you can

create beautiful designs that are a

decorative element in the architecture.

G L A S S B O T T L E S

Glass wall under construction

Finish glass wall

1 7

Metal sheets from old refrigerators and

other electric appliances can be recycled

and used to decorate the building. Not all

buildings use recycled metal panels, but it

is an option.

M E TA L S H E E T S

Metal sheets used as roofing material

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THEY USE “THERMAL MASS” TO

MAINTAIN COMFORTABLE

TEMPERATURES IN ANY CLIMATE

2

The basic structure of an Earthship is

built by tires packed with earth. They

form a thick wall of thermal mass that

stores heat from the sun during the

day and releases it at night.

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2

Thermal mass absorbs and stores heat in the same

way that a battery stores electricity. Examples of

materials with thermal mass are rock, water,

compacted soil and concrete. The more compact

mass, the more heat it can store. There is a great

difference between thermal mass and insulation.

Insulation has no capacity to absorb and store heat.

Insulation prevents heat or cold on the inside of a

house to be transported to the outside or vice versa.

Earthships use a combination of thermal mass and

insulation to create a comfortable indoor

temperature.

W H AT I S T H E R M A L M A S S ?

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2

In an Earthship the thermal mass is placed

on the inside of the wall and insulation on

the outside. The heat from the sun is

absorbed during the day and stored in the

thermal mass walls. The insulation prevents

the heat stored in the mass from being lost.

H O W I S T H E R M A L

M A S S U S E D ?

11

2

The inner surface of the earth, about 1.5 meters below

the ground, heat is stored in the form of geothermal

energy. The heat in Earthships comes from two

sources, the sun and the hot subsurface of the earth .

Earthships are built into the ground so that the

temperature source can be used to stabilize the indoor

climate.

The building is designed to optimize solar radiation so

that the sun can provide heat to the indoor

environment. The south-facing side of an Earthship is

built with sloping glass windows which maximizes solar

radiation.

By using thermal mass and designing the building with

regard to these two infinite temperature sources an

Earthship can heat and cool indoor temperatures at no

cost at all.

T E M P E R AT U R E S O U R C E S

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2

During the night when the indoor

temperature drops and becomes lower

than the thermal mass, the heat stored

in the mass will be released back into the

room. Thus, a stable and comfortable

temperature can be maintained indoors.

During the day heat is absorbed from the

sun and stored in the cool mass in the

walls and floor. According to the law of

physics heat will naturally move to cooler

areas.

H O W I S A N E A R T H S H I P

H E AT E D ?

13

The figure below illustrates where the thermal mass and insulation is placed in the building. The sun

is let through the glass walls during the day to reach the back wall constructed of tires. The heat is

absorbed and stored in the thermal mass walls. A layer of insulation blocks the heat from escaping.

During the night heat is radiated back into the room.

H O W I S A N E A R T H S H I P H E AT E D ?

2 15

The figure below illustrates a section of an Earthship. In order to maximize solar radiation the

building's glass windows have to be placed perpendicular to the winter sun's illumination. This will

block the hot summer sun and optimize the direct solar radiation during winter when the need for

heating is larger.

H O W I S A N E A R T H S H I P H E AT E D ?

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17

In climates with cold winters there are large temperature differences between day and night. In order to

avoid excessive heat loss, an Earthship is designed with a built-in greenhouse that serves as buffer zone.

The greenhouse is placed in front of the house in order to optimize use of solar energy and

thermodynamics. By incorporating a buffer zone in a thermal building more stable and comfortable

indoor temperatures can be achieved all year round. The result is cooler indoor temperatures in summer

and warmer in winter.

B U F F E R Z O N E - G R E E N H O U S E

Green-house

2

Living space

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H O W D O E S V E N T I L AT I O N W O R K I N A N E A R T H S H I P ?

Earthships utilize a natural ventilation system. The outside air is drawn through underground vent tubes

through the building. They are buried under ground in order to cool the air. The tubes enter the building on

the backside and flows through the living space and greenhouse. The exhaust air leaves the building

through skylights in the greenhouse and the windows on the front.

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E V E N W H E N

T E M P E R A T U R E S A R E

B E L O W Z E R O O U T S I D E

T H E I N D O O R C L I M A T E I N

A N E A R T H S H I P S T A Y S

C O M F O R T A B L E .

19 e a r t h s h i p s w e d e n . c o m

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THEY PRODUCE THEIR OWN

ELECTRICITY WITH ENERGY FROM THE

SUN AND WIND

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An Earthship produces household electricity and heats

water with the help of modern solar and wind

technology. Solar power is the main source of energy.

Wind is used as a supplement where sunlight is scarce.

Technological developments have led to efficient

extraction of solar energy which can be converted into

electricity and heat to a lower cost.

There are two main types of technology to obtain solar

energy. The first type is photovoltaics, which convert

solar energy into electricity. The second type are solar

panels used to convert solar energy into heat.

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Solar cells are used in an Earthship to

convert sunlight directly into electricity.

The process is silent, without moving parts

or fuel, and without anything in the solar

cell being consumed. Several paired solar

cells become a photovoltaic panel. The

number of photovoltaic panels that are

installed depends on the demand for

electricity and the availability of sunlight.

An Earthship stores energy from the

photovoltaic panels in batteries that are

integrated into compartments in the roof.

This is to ensure access to electricity also

during the night and during days with less

sun.

E L E C T R I C I T Y F R O M

P H O T O V O LTA I C

View from the roof ,photovoltaic panels and batteries

3 22

POM is a prefabricated unit that is specially

designed for Earthships. POM is a central

system for household electricity, which

includes the necessary components such

as inverters, switches, controllers and

meters on the same panel. The electricity

passing through the POM can be used to

power household appliances such as

washing machines, computers, appliances,

printers, vacuum cleaners, etc. With POM,

it is also possible to connect the building to

the electrical grid.

P O M – P O W E R

O R G A N I Z E R M O D U L E

3

When designing solar-powered homes it

is important to reduce overall energy

consumption to be able to limit the cost

of the equipment. Earthships are a result

of energy-conscious design, they have

come a long way by reducing the need for

heating. An Earthship consumes only

9500 kWh/year, while a conventional

house in Sweden consumes about 25 000

kWh/yr.

E N E R G Y C O N S U M P T I O N

AVRAGE ENERGY CONSUMPTION

24

EARTHSHIP- 9 500 kWh/year

CONVENTIONAL SWEDISH HOME - 25 000 kWh/year

Hot water, 5 000 kWh

Electricity, 5 000 kWh

Heating, 15 000 kWh

Hot water, 4 250 kWh

Electricity, 4 250 kWh

Heating, 0 kWh

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S O L A R P A N E L

P H O T O V O L T A I C P A N E L S

B A T T E R I E S

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4 27

THEY CATCH WATER FROM

THE SKY

4

Earthships have a water harvesting system

that collects rain water and melted snow for

household consumption. The figure to the

right illustrates how a roof can be designed

to harvest the rainwater and snowmelt. The

roof has a six degree slope for the water to

be collected in cisterns that are buried

behind the building.

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S I LT F I LT E R

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The water that is collected on the roof

must be cleared of twigs, leaves, grass,

dirt and other debris before it enters

the cistern. To do this, a silt-filter is used

to keep larger particles out. In a wet

climate the silt-filter is designed to cope

with heavy rainfall so that no water is

lost.

4

The tanks used to store water in an

Earthship are made out of hard plastic.

For a household of four people anywhere

from two to four tanks with a capacity of

5000 - 6000 liters each will normally

work. Where there is heavy rainfall the

tanks are often refilled and can therefore

be smaller. In dry climates the tanks

should be able to store a total of

approximately 23 000 liters of water,

while in wet climates a capacity of

11 000 liters or less is sufficient.

WAT E R C I S T E R N S

29

WOM is a specially designed filtering device for filtering water to the household. After the rain water has

been treated by WOM, it is clean enough to be used for domestic purposes. WOM is a prefabricated unit

that is connected to the cisterns. The water passes through four different filters and delivers clean drinking

water.

W O M – WAT E R O R G A N I Z I N G M O D U L E

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THEY CONTAIN, USE AND TREAT

ALL HOUSEHOLD SEWAGE

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32

An Earthship reuses the

household water and the sewage

is contained and treated in

botanical cells.

F R E S H WAT E R R E C Y C L I N G

An Earthship uses its fresh water four times:

1. The water is first used by the residents for bathing, washing, laundry and other household needs

2. The greywater (water from bathing, dishes and laundry) is used to water the greenhouse plants

3. The same water, now purified from any color and odor, is used to flush the toilet

4. The black water (water from the WC's) is sent to a septic tank and finally used to water the outdoor plants

5

START

END

33

The greywater is passed through the rubber lined botanical cells in the greenhouse. The water passes through a

number of cells with selected plants that treat and clean the greywater. In the lower part of the final botanical cell

the water passes through a series of filters. This water can now be pumped through a charcoal filter to flush a

conventional toilet.

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G R E Y WAT E R T R E AT M E N T

34

I N D O O R B O T A N I C A L

C E L L S U N D E R

C O N S T R U C T I O N


Black water is water from the household toilets. The water is flushed into a septic tank where the solid waste is

broken down to liquid through an anaerobic process. Thereafter, the water is sent to the outdoor botanical cells or

the outer greenhouse. These cells are designed to have completely absorbed the water by the time it reaches the

last cell.

B L A C K WAT E R T R E AT M E N T

5

BOTANICAL CELLS OUTSIDE

BOTANICAL CELLS INDOOR

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O U T D O O R B O T A N I C A L

C E L L S A N D S E P T I C T A N K

U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N

e a r t h s h i p s w e d e n . c o m

6

THEY PRODUCE FRUIT AND

VEGETABLES INDOORS ALL

YEAR AROUND

6

In every Earthship there is typically one or

more indoor greenhouses where fruit and

vegetables grow all year round. The

greenhouse is a vital part of the system as

it also handles the household wastewater

and acts as buffer zone for the heating

system. The botanical cells are a cross

between hydroponics and wetlands.

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6

F O O D P R O D U C T I O N

40

Watermelon growing in Earthship

Aubergine growing in Earthship

In an Earthship the plants have constant

access to nutrient-rich water (greywater)

and plenty of daylight. The plants do not

need direct sunlight throughout the day to

be able to produce. A few hours of

sunlight per day is enough. The plants

require a minimum temperature of +4 °C

at night during winter to survive and keep

producing. When the outside temperature

is -30 C the Earthship greenhouse holds a

temperature of +7 °C, a favorable climate

for exotic fruits and vegetables no matter

the season.

A B A N A N A T R E E I N A N

I N D O O R B O T A N I C A L

C E L L D U R I N G W I N T E R


O R G A N I C T O M A T O F R O M A N E A R T H S H I P T O M A T O F R O M T H E S U P E R M A R K E T

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In addition to producing fruits and

vegetables the greenhouse has other

benefits: • Green plants are aesthetic and

provide a comfortable indoor climate.

Many people enjoy having plants

around them.

• The indoor climate is affected

positively by plants that contribute to

keeping the humidity at a higher level.

• Pollution in the air is absorbed by

plants, which results to a better indoor

air quality.

• The plants also have a positive impact

on smell and airborne microbes.

G R E E N H O U S E

43

E A R T H S H I P S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D

NORTH AMERICA

USA – Arizona 2000

USA - South Dakota 2000

USA - Sonoran Desert 2001

USA - Hawaii 2006

USA - New York 2006

USA - Georgia 2010

Kanada – British Colombia 2010

CARIBBEAN

Jamaica - Negril 2008

Haiti - 2008/2011

COMMUNITY

USA - The Greater World Community

(New Mexico) 1994

USA - STAR (New Mexico) 1992 - 1997

USA - REACH (New Mexico) 1990 –

1997

EUROPE

The Netherlands - Bonaire 2008

The Netherlands - Zwolle 2008

France - Normandy 2007

Spain - Valencia 2004

England - Brighton 2003

Scotland - 2002

Belgium - Strombeek 2000

ASIA

India - Little Andaman Island 2005

Russia - Sibiria 2000

Himalaya - 1993

Japan - 1993

SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia - La Paz 1992

Honduras -Tegucigalpa 1999

Mexico - Todos Santos 2009

Mexico - Mano Leon 2006

Nicaragua - San Juan del Sur 2007 45

In the face of climate change, natural disasters and

water shortages there is an urgency to develop more

environment friendly solutions. Most importantly, to

create more efficient and green technology and to

break the oil dependency. This is a pressing issue if we

want to create a brighter future for the planet and all

its inhabitants before it is too late.

Earthship goes beyond being simply a technology for

building housing, it also contributes to a less resource-

intense lifestyle and increases awareness of our

relationship with nature. With this knowledge we have

a chance to eliminate the destructive behaviors that

threaten the environment on our planet. Earthships

are tools to radically reduce humanity's negative

pressure on natural resources and the environment.

They enable us to return to a life in greater harmony

with nature.

A G R E E N A LT E R N AT I V E

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Six Basic principals

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