zechstyr
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Yeah, they cost a lot to build. I think this could get a lot more traction if an earthship (or anything else made out of junk) got substantial tax breaks. I work extremely closely with people who study the effects of tire-dumping to make artificial reefs. One of them consists of 2 million tires that have polluted the ocean, scoured the seafloor clean, and will cost millions to remove.
One day I want to live in one of these. The biggest challenge, however, will be to get my wife to agree...
Edit: Yay FP. Send pics of kittens and puppies living in harmony.
kickedoutofthehole
Hippie castle?
cre8majic
can't imagine they're safe from earth movements or extreme weather
thornlord
I would genuinely work toward living in a home like this if I could actually make it happen.
Mansooratyale
The biggest challenge is the smell
Odmanra
This should be a mod on Fallout 4!
seanrus16OG
OP, if you really want to live in one of these, just keep asking your wife until she's tired. *Ba-dum-tiss*
zechstyr
Happy wife, happy life; slightly annoyed wife, amused life. She's gonna roll her eyes so hard at me.
algavinn
Why would your wife not agree? It's 100% win.
whatBoutthis
"radically sustainable"... Right
prattleassassin
Enjoy spending four years to build your tire house.
MightyGerg
Holy shit, those are gorgeous
Limnic
How about we don't use non-building materials and keep all the sustainability stuff :). Sounds like a standard home in the future to me!
StarscreamAndHutch
I could pitch in a few Shiner bottles if needed.
Elroydb
Tax breaks for these? That is basically welfare for the rich
ComradeV
Im starting on mine soon. It will be inspired by an old European drinking hall.
moecurlylarry
My eyes my eyes I can't see everything is blurry
cabooyah
Yes, but do they have WiFi?
BlueskydragonFX
With luck they'll have HiFi
MostlySunnyInMyWorld
They're not that far from Taos. I suspect they'll have decent cell service at least.
LittleMissKittyWhiskers
They do! Or at least the one featured here does. It was on a buzzfeed video
zechstyr
Don't see why not, they don't all have to be built off the grid
Windharp
I am pretty sure they violate lots of building regulations in urban environments.
Arook1
They wouldnt really be as effective in urban areas. Your right though sewer regulations alone mess up the plan
zechstyr
Rural areas can still get internet/wifi.
MajorPubes
No ISP would run copper or fiber to a remote destination like that without receiving a pretty penny
zechstyr
Depends on how remote you get- I've got a family member in the (general) sticks who has decently good internet
MajorPubes
I don’t doubt you, but that structure looks to be in the middle of no where
HowGodFeelsWhenHesHoldingaGun
They smell awful when the blackwater flows.
PedanticAsshat
They also have problems
xcopperx
Yea but i bet the government would have a fit about not being able to tax you on some of those resources.
aldasa
More thread left on those tyres than what's on my car
KiwiAlex
A building permit if you could even get one for that in NZ would cost 100 times the price of building the house.
Domi3guy
Saw a story about a tire based build in NZ. Family built DIY on tight budget. They got permit, had inspections. Seen other NZ projects.
KiwiAlex
Sounds very promising!
Domi3guy
I love you guys... never change.
surfturd
Hey guys! Hey. I been there
pangyre
Hey, guy! I’m from there.
DonDadaDon
We used to call it trash. Now we call it “ Recycle materials”
MexicanWarMachine
There is something really weird about paying significantly more to build a house out of recycled materials, when real building materials 1/
MexicanWarMachine
would be cheaper, more effective, and arguably more environmentally friendly over the long term. It’s the conspicuousness you’re paying for.
mburicao
Meanwhile Government be like..
MightyTightyWhities
I live in South Florida, do you think it’ll hold up to a Cat 3/4 Hurricane? You know, just in case.
Squirrelprophecies
https://youtu.be/jxsSBHTFk3w also look up Eye of the Storm in Charleston
Sundance31US
I doubt it'd stand up to the 3:45PM Daily rainstorm...
zechstyr
Since a lot of it is underground I'm assuming no, storm surge will just flood your house... and hope you have a couple mil to spend on land
mikeatike
"built out of recycled materials" also "covered in solar panels" one of these is wrong
defaultentry
"Look at how environmentally conscious I am!" the rich man shouts from his multi-million dollar home.
flakeOfDoom
I mean, you can be built of one thing and covered in another. House of wood covered in ketchup isn't a house of ketchup.
Skywatcher16
you know even cheese can only be 51% actually cheese and be legally advertised as cheese in the US, right?
ObsceneTentacularInsertions
Engineer and Permaculture bro here. You can't build with tires - outgas carcinogens. Tires are one of the worst environmental insults.
Anonypuss
We're gonna need proof for that. Seeing more sources that it isn't an issue. IE https://pangeabuilders.com/tire-offgassing/
Adroite
Yeaaa. Tons of stuff in those tires that should never be close to a living space. That and they can actually be recycled.
pangyre
I suppose you mean “shouldn’t” because Earthships have been built this way for 40 years now.
zechstyr
Good to know- I know they're bad mojo underwater but thought the earth was a good enoguh light/moisture buffer to keep them from breakdown
zechstyr
Still I at least enjoy the concept of it, if not every facet of its construction
Bertholomew
Legit question: how does the structure hold up when the rubber breaks down with age? Also, what about fire safety?
paetter
I've seen other examples of earthships where the tires are just fill, they use rebar and fill them with concrete. Plaster or other (1/3)
paetter
"fire approved" material on the ouside should do the trick. Strucutrally the tires should hold against a fire for 30 - 60 minutes (2/4)
paetter
but I'm no expert in tires, just an AT student, so i have no idea how long it will take them to decompose, normally you look at (3/4)
paetter
80 years as a life span for a dwelling, at least when looking at Life Cycle Anal(hehe)ysis and Life Cycle Costs
Nzkiwiinva
So that would make my 1890's house 50 or so years past it's use by date ;)
Arook1
So the tires are filled with packed earth so over the many years it would take to break them down the land will stay stable.
JonFerguson
Once the tires are packed with dirt then plastered over they don’t get sunlight or water on them. They essentially last forever.
txtmylife
My dad started the tire pile clean up in PA. Tire decomp can be toxic/carcinogenic. Takes 50-80 yrs to decomp so not these folks prob.
Bertholomew
I'd be concerned about adding chemicals to the water table. Presumably, the well could end up tainted.
turbodog
“Somebody poisoned the well!”
DeZaim
Plastic sheeting. Do the same as what land fill (tips/dumps whatever you want to call them) do. They have multi layer plastic sheeting 1/2?
DeZaim
And crushed rock. Stops water table contamination from a hell of a lot more toxic shit than you'd get from a couple of tyres breaking down.
BikerRay
Have to build where you don't need a permit.
barbarian818
and it can be tough to get home insurance. Not because they're earth sheltered, but because they are virtually all built by amateurs using
barbarian818
salvaged/scavenged materials, so build quality is all over the place. It's hard to predict if an earthship is going to spring a leak and
barbarian818
flood, causing major water damage a few years from now, because of a mistake in the roof. Or if poor drainage is going to make the
barbarian818
foundations heave and buckle. (since most of this are built un-inspected by anyone)
JonFerguson
I was able to get a building permit to build an Earthship.
octosocks
And did you build it?
JonFerguson
Yes but we weren’t able to finish it due to a divorce.
poisonfire
Pics or it didnt happen
JonFerguson
I have a scrapbook somewhere, this was before everyone had cell phones with cameras.
MadLucy
Agreed
ExciteableBoy
Last time I checked, some were available as vacation rentals. Of course, they were out in BF nowhere (Taos, NM)
TairaMai
Taos is VERY popular, f'ing Californians ruined it for us New Mexicans....
CuttleFishOfCthulu
Taos is a popular western tourist destination. Not exactly "bf nowhere".
ExciteableBoy
I like being in BF nowhere, but its not everyone's cuppa. Last time I was there was an artist colony and a pueblo.
CuttleFishOfCthulu
Yeah, Im originally from Santa Fe. Taos is cool for an afternoon drive and something to eat. I live in CO now, but like passing through.
Notme68
I was fairly certain that all of NM was The Middle of Nowhere.
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Notme68
I have experience many places. The borders of WV include Ohio and Pennsylvania, fairly busy commerce centers. 1
Notme68
NM Borders AZ and the outer edge of TX. Not places known for being highly populated. The I-10 Through the is mostly sand.