Should You Build an Earth Ship? Rob Avis Reacts

[@stephenhegarty]

Rob, I agree with your assessment of almost everything in this video - except using plastic barrels for water collection. I live close to a cereal factory that has a massive surplus of food grade barrels. You can pick them up for $5-10 a piece. I have made a 3 barrel rainwater collection system for my reasonably sized urban veggie garden that I have been using now for almost 10 years. I use mulch and ground cover to help lock in soil moisture and created a drip irrigation system from old garden hoses. I have only ran out of water a couple of times during very dry seasons and have never used city water. If done properly they are a great entry point for people who want to experiment without spending a ton of money.

[@ADAWC]

Love this kind of Q & A. Very helpful. Thank you for clearing the do and don't.

[@luminaia]

Superb. More of this format. Helpful.

[@gillsmoke]

Even in arid climates hugle mounds can do well, burying woody debris in your swales will extend the time water remains on site. Chipping it first might be better, Geoff Lawton's Greening the desert project started with what he called spiky pits, where they chopped and buried a large among of spiky branches with some manures and kitchen waste. It was the start of the fertility cycling that's still going strong.

[@jarnoldbn]

My wife and I building an “earthship” with hyperadobe bags rather than tires. The tires not only are heavy on manual labor but they also off gas. We are also doing vertical glazing and reducing the amount of glazing to keep the heat more manageable.

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

6:34 I work with building envelopes, as a glazier. Will confirm, all sloped glazing units are going to leak. The worst issues always arise from birds. I've crawled on a few skylights downtown because of bird damage to gaskets and caulking. My wife has talked about earth ships ever since we met. Thanks for sharing your research

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

Yeah, those buildings are designed and constructed by enthusiastic but absolutely incompetent people. For winter heating, vertical glazing is adequate. For summer, vertical is better. If really necessary to have sloped glazing, leakage problem can be solved by using glazing like on greenhouse in front of windows, so there will be no water touching windows.

[@wildunikitty9704]

Please make more of these videos !!! I love to ear about the downsides of technics proposed by others. Often times some youtubers show their trials but present the information as if it was tried and true. Sometimes I get the BS but sometimes I don't. They never link to an update a few years later when they explain what didn't work. Please please please continue

[@wes_tone_improves_the_process]

Earthship no longer does the angled glass. They haven't for years. They learned that it is not necessary to do so. And yes the tirewall is really the main sticking point with earthships.

[@davepennington3573]

The window manufacturers will not warranty them if they are installed at angles, that alone should make the decision easy. That plus all the stories about melting computers LOL.

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

Tire wall can be avoided by using 50 times less tiresome to make mud brick / unfired bricks. And you do not have to worry about toxins leaching from those tires into your home. There are still more then 10 000+ buildings made from unfired bricks in Europe alone. There are no cadastral records in Africa so it is hard to say exactly how much they are used there..

[@happyhobbit8450]

In Claresholm the street water goes through Frog creek and then through cleansing ponds and then it waters the greens at the golf course

[@BNM-b7t]

Good question//I am considering passive solar shed roof on slab but an earth ship has always appealed to me. Thanks for the content. Good day!

[@michaelgusovsky]

this was a really great video, thank you! some very sensible and knowledgeable commentary on some topics i'm interested in but haven't tried yet. great info!

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

Please give me your thoughts on the use of compressed earth bricks as thermal mass on the north wall of a passive solar greenhouse. Especially as an alternative to rammed earth tires. They can be made with a hand press or by large gas powered machine and are much less labor intensive.

[@steveg9939]

Fun format. I enjoyed this video

[@honeycaffena4897]

Wondering if you could share about water cisterns buried in cold climates?

[@VCJyJ2010]

Thanks Rob, very interesting points!

[@jamesmarotta5650]

Rob, can you please discuss passive solar greenhouses in temperate climates. E.g., Zone 7-8 where summers are hot humid and winters can produce freezing temps.

[@futurecaredesign]

I own a copy of the 1983 PDC recorded in Tasmania and taught by Bill Mollison. In that PDC he goes into housing a lot and even then (41 years ago!!!) he says that the angled windows are likely to fail and unnecessary for passive solar design. He also goes into the idea of having what he calls a solarium (iirc) rather than a greenhouse. Basically a greenhouse produces lots of humidity year round because of the plants' reliance on photosynthesis. This is not an ideal combination with houses because there you want low humidity.

[@futurecaredesign]

Basically a solarium is a Greenhouse without all the plants. It's a place to dry your clothes, have a cuppa and possibly sunbathe.

[@jaminlove]

Great work 🔥

[@TreeVibes]

Great video 👍👌

[@LadySkippy]

Do you have a video showing your recommendations for a Passive Solar House Build? I would love to know your recommendations.

[@allanparker20]

On the topic of earthships , no question they are a lot of work . I've actually been head framer and design consultant on one. Labor can be minimalized by the use of neumatic rams , moving the earth can be done by conveyer belts. All the same its a BIG endeavor. Ventilation can be improved by various methods , like adding earth tunes through the earthen berm , which I think is a brilliant system and have used in my own designs. Thanks for the tip on reydon gas. I suppose that an issue on any earthen structure. Also thanks for the great news on trees selectively distributing components. I've often claimed this and real evidence e ists for plants such as cattails and cord grass but a great deal of concern has been placed on the production of fruit bearing trees. Back to earthships , despite the daunting measures required to build them , there are some great innovations in design that I shameless steal and incorporate into my own😂 Great video Rob

[@davepennington3573]

Those are some good pointers. IBC totes are sometimes the best option when larger tanks won't fit. What is the approximate cost per square foot to build the greenhouse you are in?

[@dictionaryzzz]

plant some deciduous trees on the southside so it shades the earthship during summer. Relocate the solar panels away from the structure.

[@brudo5056]

Hi... these rubber tires can contain a lot of PAH (poly aromatic hydrocarbons) and still give a lot of discussion when re-used as grinded materials on sportsfields etc. There were some comparative studies that indicated an increased level of PAH in the blood of frequent users of those sportsfields compared to the classical fields, but I have no knowledge if this also gave a significant difference in the appearance of PAH related diseases. The tires in an earthship are also not grinded and are more or less insulated/compacted with this earth. However PAH is a group of chemical compounds which are rather persistent to biochemical breakdown.

[@nateross14]

Earthships are much better than standard modern homes, but still far from the most efficient and long term sustainable way to live. A better way is to take a turning your home into a Garden of Eden approach, or living in a Greenhouse. Earthships prioritize living in a dead box over growing food inside your home, and thus waste an immense amount of real estate. It just so happens that Plants want to live in the same year round climate as you do, 60-85 deg. If you switch your mind state to living with your food plants/trees, you get free organic food using zero resources above what you use to maintain your home. You will actually end up using less than half, and potential far less than that, because your home will now be harvesting a massive amount of direct solar for the main heat source. In essence, if you build a south facing Greenhouse structure, with the south half using clear twinwall polycarbonate panels, that are arched that self shed snow, and the North half of the structure is heavily insulated opaque sheathing of your choice. To minimize heat loss, you also should insulate the exterior ground 4 ft away from the structure to move the frost line as far away as possible. Combine this with using a Rocket Mass Wood heater and also make Methane Gas harvester to collect gas from your compost, and you will have an insanely efficient living and food growing habitat for both you and your plants/trees to live in, that will never drop below 55-60 deg. The main issues to mitigate are excess heat in Summer, and Insects inside your living area. Both are easily solved. With proper air ventilation, and also allowing trees and plant canopies to grow infront of the clear polycarbonate front (on the inside of the greenhouse, not the outside), they will absorb most of the light and heat, and create a shade canopy for the North half of the Greenhouse which will be the main living quarters. For insect's, you can either just learn to live with them and install a mosquito net over your beds, or you can divide the structure in half with continuous insect screen, so the insects stay in the South half growing area. Insects generally stay where the plants are anyway. I highly encourage people to consider living in Greenhouses, Man was meant to live inside Garden of Eden.

[@c.r.p.968]

Similarly, the way oyster mushroom mycellium detox crude oil from oil spills.

[@Mr53000]

Does this mean that hobbit holes could generate radon poisoning? That Bilbo Baggin’s house was potentially toxic because it was built into the earth?

[@davepennington3573]

Radon makes you shorter and causes hair growth on your feet.

[@wgoode97]

Radon is not a problem everywhere, so be sure to check the Shire’s radon map to see if your hobbit hole needs a radon mitigation system 😉

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

Due to their very long life span, I'd say no. They must not have radon there. Haha

[@regeneratearth2137]

Can a powered ram like that used for rammed earth building be used to compress earth into the tyres? Even for part of the work?

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

I was thinking along the same lines with compressed earth bricks. Could be made by gas powered machine or by hand press for less labour than pounding tires. I'd like to hear his thoughts.

[@briannacooper2628]

Earthships are innovative and I love the reuse concept but I have never been in an earthship that doesn’t smell of tires. Would love to see an earthship design that didn’t rely on tires and pounding tires.

[@futurecaredesign]

I found a guy on youtube some time ago who was building one out of earhbags/superadobe.

[@davepennington3573]

How many have you been in? I have only been in one and it didn't smell of tires, but I am leery of the idea because toxins can hurt you even if you can't smell them. Tires stink, and that means they are giving off something, and I would bet that is toxic.

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

new alchemist bioshelter ark - million times better and actually working. Possible to lower costs by not integrating all the systems.

[@beerose4309]

Interesting about the smell. I’ve always been fond of the concept and system design of earthships but could never find evidence about health impacts.

[@briannacooper2628]

Same here, the health impacts of air pollution from toxic tires and potentially toxic mold convinced us to go in a different direction when we built. I would love to see the information and alternatives become common place so people can use the innovative ideas. @@beerose4309

[@dantheman9135]

ThankQ

[@noah786]

I don’t like straw because if it is not 100% sealed against rodents you get, well, rodents. The alternative I would propose is pumicecrete

[@monokheros5373]

LOCAL LAWS might be a limiting factor .... as allowed to harvest UPTO x amount of gallons providing use of less then x number of containers one locality i know of was 200 gal no more then 2 containers BEFORE you need to file and let the state know how much you are catching in order to get a permit and pay tax

[@darkskinwoman]

What do you think about building with interlocking compressed earth blocks? I cannot link but you can YT search "makiga interlocking stabalized earth blocks". I'm considering buying the manual machine.

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

As i said in another comment, there are 10 000+ buildings made from similar material still being used in europe alone. You can even find numbers for static calculations for them in European publications /architectural journals. I am not sure what climate you're in, but in TN/NC climate you have to repair plaster every 3-4 years. ( without hurricane )

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

But of course, if you use insulation on top of that compressed brick then should be no problem with any standard building material.

[@OwnerBuildersUnite]

Earthships are worth it if you are motivated to pound tires!

[@Promeethious]

Concerning Radon-222, I have heard you voice your concerns about Radon exposure in the past. I can't fault you for following the official guidelines but the limits are based on faulty assumptions, so Radon is not as hazardous as you think. It is unreasonable to expect you to challenge an industry of "experts" and I am not prepared to say that Radon exposure is good for you, so I just caution you about quantifying the adverse health impact from Radon exposure.

[@ADAWC]

👍👍👍🙏

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

I have been (on and off) in the natural and traditional design build industry for over 40 years...Michael E. Reynolds is typical of the 70s...self made (and proclaimed) "experts that DIY experimented there way into fame. His concepts are very poor bastardization on traditional forssorial architecture and little to none of his original work is good or even habitable (and certainly not healthy for living)...!!! Earthships, from the traditional perspective are wonderful and well proven to work, but few to none are built this way and building with "garbage" will only lead to "garbage architecture" within a few decades...!!! Thanks for a great video...!!!

[@Jarjarjar21]

300to400 liters perday for one person? No way i use that much H2O. Sorry. I guess I'm not a heavy user.

[@EarthCreature.]

It's annoying you're using that fad language "solar punk". It isn't cute, it isn't the term. The solar revolution is devalued by every single one of you trying to make it "cool". It's just a fact. There's a solar revolution just like there was an industrial revolution. Start acting responsibly

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

Earthships - Those buildings are awesome "on paper", horrible execution. Just make unfired bricks from that dirt and built better performing and looking building. Without using disgusting waste. Road runoff - if your plants accumulate AND CONCENTRATE all those bad things, then what happens when this matter disintegrates / get burned ?

[@MerwinARTist]

Imagine all the people driving in city traffic while the Car/Truck tire rubber is pealing off into the air. Wooden wheels are definitely better for the planet! Give me all your good used tires .. I use them for all kinds of things. 🙂

[@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez]

@@MerwinARTist If as a "good used tires" you mean rubber tires, then you want to spread waste even farther away from roads ?

[@MerwinARTist]

@@Jamey_ETHZurich_TUe_Rulez .. Some soils are loaded with clay & rock .. unfit for growing veggies. Tires are "Stable" and "Chemically Inert" .. there are studies that go way back in Mother Earth mags that speak about this. The only real negative is taking tires and grinding them up to use as a mulch for instance. When new tires are put on a car/truck .. any off gassing takes place during the life of the active period on the wheel .. but good used tires are as stable as a plastic pot that people pay good money for at the local garden shops everywhere. Think about the size of a Tractor tire or 18 wheeler tire .. how much would it cost to get a quality "plastic" pot that size and stable strength from a garden shop? A local tire store has free tires .. and it costs the shop to have someone haul them away. I have used tires in making yard pond features .. you can paint them a bright yellow and they can be placed at the edge of a drive way to alert a driver to avoid objects. There are many good uses for used tires .. but of course pick those with good tread etc. Two big truck tires stacked on top of each other with their side walls cut out .. and filled with dirt and oak tree chunks .. make a great raised bed. I have a row of these that I use to grow sweet potatoes in. I'm 73 .. been using tires for a good while. The upturned nose at tires .. is more of a mind game about money .. not reality.