Building an Earthship
with Michael Reynolds
Travel to Taos, New Mexico to meet Michael as he shares the principles behind Earthships and how you can apply them to your own sustainable off-grid building. Learn how to meet the six points necessary for human sustenance by harnessing the abundant power of the earth’s natural systems. Waste is a huge challenge facing our modern world. Earthships provide an alternative solution by creating buildings that repurpose, recycle and reuse to generate comfortable homes.
0 of 8 lessons completed
🏠 Introduction: Welcome to Building an Earthship
+Welcome to Building an Earthship
Meet Michael Reynolds and discover the fundamentals of Earthship design and sustainable off-grid living.
🌍 Module 1: Building the Earthship Idea
+Building the Earthship Idea
What can we do with the rubbish humans create? Earthships provide a solution. Dive into the history of Earthships, how repurposed materials create these buildings whilst also addressing the issue of waste.
Key Concepts
- Earthship History
- Repurposing and recycling materials
- Pitfalls of modern building materials
- Key points of human sustenance
- Issues of waste
- Independence from fossil fuels
🌡️ Module 2: Heat and Cool
+Heat and Cool
Explore the first of six aspects necessary for human sustenance that Earthships address. Understand how these buildings work with the power of the sun to heat and cool the temperature of a room, without using fossil fuels.
Key Concepts
- Natural convection & solar thermal dynamics
- Insulation techniques
- Adaptation to different climates
- Independence from energy companies
⚡ Module 3: Generate Power
+Generate Power
Electricity is part of our way of life. Michael outlines the benefit of creating renewable energy on site rather than transported through expensive energy grids.
Key Concepts
- The shortfalls of the electrical grid
- Solar panels
- Renewable energy
💧 Module 4: Source Water
+Source Water
Earthships harvest, filter and clean to increase the usability of water. Learn how in this module and the importance of recycling water.
Key Concepts
- Harvesting water
- Removing Silt
- Filtering for drinking water
- Processing greywater via plants
- Legal implications of harvesting your own water
♻️ Module 5: Manage Waste
+Manage Waste
In order to create an off-grid home you need to address the sewage you create. Learn how to harness the nutrients available in blackwater and recycle grey water through the power of plants.
Key Concepts
- Black and grey water treatment
- Septic Tanks
- How plants clean water
- The pitfalls of sewage treatment plants
🌾 Module 6: Grow Food Sovereignty
+Grow Food Sovereignty
Another aspect of off-grid living is growing your own food, which provides independence from industrial agriculture. Here Michael outlines how Earthships are designed with food growing integrated as an essential piece of the puzzle.
Key Concepts
- Health impacts of industrial agriculture
- Reusing water and nutrients to grow food
- Testing food for E-coli
🎓 Conclusion: Building the Earthship Movement
+Building the Earthship Movement
Earthships cover everything needed for human survival whilst providing comfort and autonomy. Reflect on what you’ve learned and discover how to apply these principles to your own sustainable building projects.
Michael Reynolds
Earthship Architect & Pioneer
What You’ll Learn
- ✓ Understand the Earthship concept
- ✓ Repurpose recycled materials
- ✓ Design natural heating & cooling systems
- ✓ Set up renewable solar electricity
- ✓ Source and recycle water
- ✓ Manage sewage and wastewater
- ✓ Grow and produce food on-site
- ✓ Create a self-sustaining home