Earthship
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Earthship is a building system that uses tires as permanent forms for rammed earth, passive solar design, rain catchments, and other integrated systems to create low-impact, energy-efficient structures. Simply put, it is a radically sustainable building made of recycled materials.
Brief Description
Earthships are generally Off-the-grid homes, minimizing their reliance on public utilities and fossil fuels. They can be constructed in any part of the world and perform effectively and efficiently in any type of climate as they are built to utilize the available local resources. Some such examples include:
• Electricity is from the sun with solar panels and wind with wind modules
• Water is caught on the roof from rain and snow melt
• Sewage is treated on site in interior and external botanical planters
• Heating and Cooling is from the sun and the earth
• Food is grown inside and outside
• Windows are designed in order to utilize natural daylight to the maximum possible extent
• Buildings are often horseshoe-shaped to maximize natural light and solar-gain during winter months
• The thick, dense outer walls provide effective insulation against summer heat
• Internal, non-load-bearing walls are often made of a honeycomb of recycled cans joined by concrete and are referred to as tin can walls. These walls are usually thickly plastered with stucco
• The roof of an Earthship is heavily insulated - often with earth or adobe - for added energy efficiency
References:
http://www.thinkgreenbuilding.com/Knowldege%20Base/glossary.htm
