Comments on: An Introduction to Earthships http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/ At last I had mastered the low art of coming unmoored. -- Joe Androe Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:43:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steph http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Steph Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:55:27 +0000 http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/#comment-206 @EJ, Michael Reynolds went through a pretty significant battle with the city of Taos over this a few years back. The documentary Garbage Warrior, on which you'll see an entry on tomorrow, goes through this in some detail. The biggest thing that seemed to get Reynolds in trouble in Taos wasn't the structures as much as it was the fact that the communities he'd established didn't have private ownership of land associated with each house. It was all communal. That was one of the things that had to be changed in order to receive the blessing from the city to continue building. He also ended up having to get a bill passed in the state legislature to continue building new forms of experimental structures. In terms of the actual houses, some cities have had problems with the gray water management and/or have required that the houses be attached to local utilities even if they never drew power/water from them. From the reading I've been doing, though, places that are receptive to other forms of rammed earth buildings can generally be convinced to accept earthships. Especially when architectural drawings with a seal are provided. @EJ, Michael Reynolds went through a pretty significant battle with the city of Taos over this a few years back. The documentary Garbage Warrior, on which you’ll see an entry on tomorrow, goes through this in some detail.

The biggest thing that seemed to get Reynolds in trouble in Taos wasn’t the structures as much as it was the fact that the communities he’d established didn’t have private ownership of land associated with each house. It was all communal. That was one of the things that had to be changed in order to receive the blessing from the city to continue building. He also ended up having to get a bill passed in the state legislature to continue building new forms of experimental structures.

In terms of the actual houses, some cities have had problems with the gray water management and/or have required that the houses be attached to local utilities even if they never drew power/water from them.

From the reading I’ve been doing, though, places that are receptive to other forms of rammed earth buildings can generally be convinced to accept earthships. Especially when architectural drawings with a seal are provided.

]]> By: EJ http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/comment-page-1/#comment-205 EJ Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:18:26 +0000 http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/#comment-205 I wonder what building inspectors say about these? Somehow I don't think they meet IBC although they certainly look very nice and have lots of cool features. I wonder what building inspectors say about these? Somehow I don’t think they meet IBC although they certainly look very nice and have lots of cool features.

]]> By: Steph http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Steph Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:36:04 +0000 http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/#comment-201 @Kent, thanks! The credit for most of those goes to Earthship Biotecture, though. Plus, I think earthships are naturally photogenic structures. They have some truly fantastic interiors. I've got a bunch more pics coming up later this week of the little one I stayed in. @Kent, thanks! The credit for most of those goes to Earthship Biotecture, though. Plus, I think earthships are naturally photogenic structures. They have some truly fantastic interiors.

I’ve got a bunch more pics coming up later this week of the little one I stayed in.

]]> By: Kent http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Kent Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:25:53 +0000 http://www.comingunmoored.com/2009/02/an-introduction-to-earthships/#comment-200 Wow, Steph these are great and the pictures are fantastic. Great find! Wow, Steph these are great and the pictures are fantastic. Great find!

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