An Earthship home is a home built around sustainability. These types of homes are built to work with nature rather than against it. The concept dates back to the 1970s, born during the early environmental movement. They’re often made using recycled and natural materials, be it old tires, glass bottles or reclaimed wood, combined in clever ways to create a strong insulating house.
Anyone can pile up tires and wood in a vague house shape, but what sets Earthships apart is how they function day to day. They’re designed to collect their own energy using solar or wind power, harvest rainwater and naturally regulate indoor temperatures through smart design rather than relying on heating or air conditioning. Many even include indoor growing spaces, allowing homeowners to grow herbs, fruit or vegetables year-round.
Sustainability sounds great, but Earthship homes aren’t for everyone. You can’t build an Earthship home just anywhere — they work best in moderate climates. Tropical or arctic conditions can just be too much of a strain on the house. Also, they can take a lot of work to keep them functioning, so you’d need to be able to expend the time and energy to keep them running.
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