Article: The $55K, 2,900-sq. ft, eco-friendly home & no electricity bill (Earthship)

[MetroMPG]

From the Globe and Mail:

(Direct link will probably disappear behind a paywall in 30 days - search Google for the article title to read it after that...)

The $55K, 2,900-square foot, eco-friendly home

Probably not news to most EcoRenovators, but here's a mainstream media article about the growing number of "Earthship" homes being built in Canada. It's a bit short on technical issues.

the concept has seen a surge following a 2007 documentary about [designer Michael] Reynolds called Garbage Warrior. The movie helped popularize Earthships, which appeal to many for both environmental and economic reasons.

The article scratches the surface of the ideas behind these buildings (see the Wiki page for more info), mentioning economic and environmental advantages like:

• off-the-grid
• made of recycled materials
• heated by passive solar / high thermal mass
• used tire "bricks"
• low cost construction (depending)
• indoor "greenhouse" like gardening

Reynolds' company says there are already dozens of the homes in Canada.

...with several currently under construction in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.Earthship Biotecture held a seminar in Toronto last month that attracted 150 people. Interest is so high that Reynolds is in the midst of getting his architecture license in every province.

The article touches on the fact that owners of these homes tend to promote them to family & friends, and convince them to build their own:

Pat Potter and her husband, Chuck, both in their 60s, have lived in an earthship-like home for nearly two decades in Gilmour, Ont.
They have since helped to build four others, and have designed another five. Currently, they are build one up the road from their house for Chuck Potter’s sister.

More: The $55K, 2,900-square foot, eco-friendly home

The comments that go with the article are interesting too.