Year-end Project: Earthship Design and Model Build
Your objective is to design and build a model of an Earthship. An Earthship is a home built with sustainable materials, is completely off the local utility grid, and even grows food with hardly any effort from you. Your reasons for building the Earthship may be different than a neighboring lab team. Therefore, you will be making decisions about your home that may be completely different from the folks around you.
This portion of the class web page is designed to help you find resources for your project. You will likely know very little about this process at the beginning and that's okay! This is the type of project where you learn as you go!
This portion of the class web page is designed to help you find resources for your project. You will likely know very little about this process at the beginning and that's okay! This is the type of project where you learn as you go!
Phase 1: Choose your scenario and Earthship location
The first of many decisions starts with the most important: "Why am I building an Earthship?".
Your assignment is to choose one (1) of the 4 reasons provided. Once I have approved your reason, you cannot change it! Be smart - each reason will have consequences. Some consequences will lead to some difficult design choices down the road.
I am building an Earthship because...
Your assignment is to choose one (1) of the 4 reasons provided. Once I have approved your reason, you cannot change it! Be smart - each reason will have consequences. Some consequences will lead to some difficult design choices down the road.
I am building an Earthship because...
- "I am interested in living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle."
- "a major, Midwest disaster has contaminated all local water supplies. l need to build a home that can help me survive off the grid."
- "I need security in this, the darkest time in human history, the zombie apocalypse."
- "NASA wants me to start a human colony on Mars."
Phase 2: The 6 Design Steps
In this phase of the project, you'll be reading, gathering, and learning information about each of the 6 design steps. Once you think you know what you need to make decisions about a step, come show me. I will either approve your ideas or give you feedback for making them even better. How do you know what you are supposed to do at each design step? Easy - just look for the Your assignment heading in each step. Remember, you can work on any of the 6 design steps you want - you don't have to work on them in order. Just make sure all 6 steps are completed before moving to the blueprint and model build stages.
Step 1: Electricity from Renewable Energy
It is vital to the success of your Earthship that it be completely off the grid. That means your home is designed to collect, produce, and use your own electricity, water, and utilities. No fair hooking your home up to the local city water supply! Earthships are all about living off the resources of, and in harmony with, the land.
Your assignment is to decide which renewable energy source(s) you will use to power your home. Along with your decision, you will need to list and explain three (3) reasons why your decision is the right choice for where you've chosen to build your Earthship.
Read these short informational sheets about different renewable energy sources - I'm sure you can come up with a way to make your home green with energy! If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations here.
Your assignment is to decide which renewable energy source(s) you will use to power your home. Along with your decision, you will need to list and explain three (3) reasons why your decision is the right choice for where you've chosen to build your Earthship.
Read these short informational sheets about different renewable energy sources - I'm sure you can come up with a way to make your home green with energy! If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations here.
Bio fuels fact sheet | |
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Geothermal fact sheet | |
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Hydro fact sheet | |
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Solar fact sheet | |
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Wind fact sheet | |
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Step 2: Food Production
A foundational element of an Earthship is combining the living and growing space under the same roof. There are many ways to grow food indoors.
Your assignment
Look through some of the following methods and see if one or more of them could be used inside your Earthship. Keep your eyes open - you may find a way to grow your produce, protein, and help recycle your water all at the same time. Talk about a big design advantage!
Your assignment
- Decide what "no soil" farming method(s) you will use to grow your food in your greenhouse. Along with your decision, you will need to list and explain three (3) reasons why your decision is the right choice for where you've chosen to build your Earthship.
- Write a menu of 10 meals you would like to eat on a rotating basis. Next to each meal, list which ingredients you grew in your Earthship. To be considered a meal, your meal must include a protein and a vegetable or a protein and a fruit. Remember, if you use lots of different ingredients in your meals, you'll need to make your greenhouse space large enough in your design to accommodate it all (space will be a real issue if you are living on Mars).
Look through some of the following methods and see if one or more of them could be used inside your Earthship. Keep your eyes open - you may find a way to grow your produce, protein, and help recycle your water all at the same time. Talk about a big design advantage!
alternative_agriculture_methods.pdf | |
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Food for thought - No matter what method you pick for growing food indoors, your plan is likely to include growing veggies and fruits. If these plants reproduce using flowers and pollination, you're going to run into a problem after your first harvest. Because you are growing indoors, you won't have any natural pollinators to help fertilize next seasons' crop. Never fear - Mrs. Spencer is here to help solve your problem!
Step 3: Natural and/or Recycled Materials
There are several videos on YouTube and articles online that can help you think of ways to incorporate recycled or natural materials into your design.
Off Grid Build is a YouTube channel devoted to the work of two Earthship designers/builders. They have logged their design and build journey step by step. I'm sure you'll find their videos helpful for principles 3, 4, 5, and 6. They come highly rated - though I have not watched every single video so just be careful if language becomes salty at points.
Your assignment for this principle is to write a list of ten (10) recycled or natural materials you will use in the designing and building of your Earthship and how you plan to use them. If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations here.
Off Grid Build is a YouTube channel devoted to the work of two Earthship designers/builders. They have logged their design and build journey step by step. I'm sure you'll find their videos helpful for principles 3, 4, 5, and 6. They come highly rated - though I have not watched every single video so just be careful if language becomes salty at points.
Your assignment for this principle is to write a list of ten (10) recycled or natural materials you will use in the designing and building of your Earthship and how you plan to use them. If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations here.
Step 4: Zero-Emission Living
There are many aspects of modern life that emit greenhouse gases. If you live in an Earthship, you have to get creative with how you take care of your lawn and landscape, travel to and from home, and power is used in your home.
Your assignment is to research HOW the following household activities can be done without emitting C02 into the atmosphere AND how you will include them in your design:
Your assignment is to research HOW the following household activities can be done without emitting C02 into the atmosphere AND how you will include them in your design:
- Heating and cooling your home
- Producing hot water for your home
- The energy needed for inside and outside lighting
- Electricity to run household appliances
Step 5: Water Harvesting
Your assignment for this principle is to design a water harvesting system that will maximize water collection while minimizing the electrical power needed to run it. Your system needs to include: collection gutters or barrels, a collection device like a cistern or well that runs this water to the home, and a large, underground storage tank for long term water storage. If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in finding water on the planet. If you get stuck, come see me.
Step 6: Contained Water Treatment System
It would be easy if you could just drink all the water you harvested right away but, depending on your situation, that could make you sick or worse! You're likely going to have to treat (remove impurities and microscopic organisms) from the water you plan to drink.
Your assignment is to research and decide on which method you would like to use to make your collected water safe for drinking and in your indoor gardens. Bonus respect points if you can do this with minimal use/no use of toxic chemicals or use of only non-toxic chemicals.
Your assignment is to research and decide on which method you would like to use to make your collected water safe for drinking and in your indoor gardens. Bonus respect points if you can do this with minimal use/no use of toxic chemicals or use of only non-toxic chemicals.
Phase 3: Drawing the Earthship Blueprint
Now that you've made all of the big decisions about the design, it is time to see what your dream Earthship will look like.
Your assignment is to draw a blueprint of your Earthship. You can choose to model your home after one of the three examples below or be original and make it all yourself. You will be supplied with graph paper. Blueprints are always drawn to scale so you need to create a scale in the bottom right corner of your blueprint (i.e. 1 box = 5 ft. or 1 box = 3 ft. whatever floats your Earthship). If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations for protection against conditions on the Martian surface. If you get stuck, come see me.
Remember - pay attention to your scale and stick to it! Do you really need a 400 ft. x 400 ft. bedroom?
Your assignment is to draw a blueprint of your Earthship. You can choose to model your home after one of the three examples below or be original and make it all yourself. You will be supplied with graph paper. Blueprints are always drawn to scale so you need to create a scale in the bottom right corner of your blueprint (i.e. 1 box = 5 ft. or 1 box = 3 ft. whatever floats your Earthship). If you have chosen the Mars location, you'll need to take extra care in your considerations for protection against conditions on the Martian surface. If you get stuck, come see me.
Remember - pay attention to your scale and stick to it! Do you really need a 400 ft. x 400 ft. bedroom?
What Should be Included in My Blueprint?
Earthship Blueprint (helpful examples)
A nest plan | |
File Size: | 130 kb |
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1 bedroom plan | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
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2 bedroom plan | |
File Size: | 100 kb |
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Don't forget to include windows in your blue print. This is how you draw them! ^^^
Phase 4: Building the Earthship Model
Now that your drawing is done, the fun part can begin!
Your assignment is to convert a shoe box (or any other box you've been able to get your hands on) and build a model of your Earthship creation. You are only required to build a model of the exterior. However, if you have time, you may design as much of the inside as you like including decorations, furniture, plants in your greenhouse, and wiring real electric lights if you so desire.
If you chose "Zombie Apocalypse" as your reason for building your Earthship, you may include zombie defenses to your Earthship model but not until after you have completed the required exterior model build.
Your assignment is to convert a shoe box (or any other box you've been able to get your hands on) and build a model of your Earthship creation. You are only required to build a model of the exterior. However, if you have time, you may design as much of the inside as you like including decorations, furniture, plants in your greenhouse, and wiring real electric lights if you so desire.
If you chose "Zombie Apocalypse" as your reason for building your Earthship, you may include zombie defenses to your Earthship model but not until after you have completed the required exterior model build.
Earthship Model Build (ideas to consider)
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'RE DONE WITH THE EARTHSHIP PROJECT
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Results of Tectonic Activity
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2015-06-giant-earthquakes-are-shaking-greenland-and-scientists-just-figured-out-the-disturbing-reason-why.pdf | |
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2014-06-extinct-undersea-volcanoes-earth-crust.pdf | |
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Tsunami Danger
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Revealing More of Earth's Deep History
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2015-02-dynamite-explosions-reveal-secrets-tectonic.pdf | |
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2015-02-north-american-plate-shattered-billion.pdf | |
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article_space_rock_sheds_light_on_mysterious_mineral_on_earth.pdf | |
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The Transition to Cleaner Energy
2015-08-negative-emissions-power-plant.pdf | |
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fracking_led_to_ohio_earthquakes.pdf | |
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