2014Off Topic forum
Passive solar and off-grid earthship design with thermal mass and water reclamation
12 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A rammed earth tire structure with south-facing windows and stone thermal mass maintains interior temperatures around 76 degrees Fahrenheit without active heating when outdoor temperature is 42 degrees, relying entirely on passive solar gain.
- Summer cooling is achieved passively by opening vents at the roof peak and ground-level tubes that draw air from underground channels at 57 degrees, creating convective cooling without energy consumption.
- Water systems in this design recycle shower water to an indoor food garden, then direct overflow to a solar-powered septic system, with all fresh water sourced from rainfall catchment rather than wells or municipal supply.
- Compact urban pods of 500 square feet can be constructed in approximately 6 weeks using similar passive solar and reclaimed water principles, with material costs around 10,000 dollars.
- Multiple pods can be expanded by opening connecting walls and building tunnel structures with windows, allowing residents to construct additional units using the same building techniques they employed for the first pod.
Depends on
- The example described is located in the Taos, New Mexico area with its specific climate, and performance at other latitudes or climates is not addressed.
- Urban implementation faces unspecified complications from local building codes and permitting requirements.
- The construction timeline and cost estimates for urban pods are second-hand information from a student and lack independent verification.