How is sustainable development in Practice?

With an increasing population and depleting resources, we are beginning to understand the need for new sustainable design. After using up large amounts of our resources, taking up too much space and consuming and creating large amounts of waste, we are finally starting to tackle these issues. A case of sustainable development in building homes out of waste and recylable products is a great example of how sustainable development is being put into place (ands its really neat too).

During presentations last week in my sustainable development class, two groups discussed the implementation of ‘Earthships’. Earthships are a sustainable way of developing homes, especially in developing countries where disaster has struck. One group discussed how Haiti is using this design as a way of reestablishing homes for the millions of people that were left homeless after the massive earthquakes struck the country in January of 2010.

I guess I’ll tell you a little about these Earthships. An Earthship is essentially a home constructed out of waste materials and earth! It’s a great way of using our waste to the fullest. The foundation of most Earthships are made of tires filled with earth. These structures enable the home to resist catastrophes such as earthquakes as they are flexible. In many cases plastic bottles, glass bottles, or aluminum cans are uses to enforce the earth and concrete walls, this also makes then look very pretty, as different coloured bottles can be used and can create a sort of mosaic-like wall that look like tiny windows.

These Earthships are a great way of using our local resources and waste and harvest energy from the sun. They are made to be ‘off-grid’ homes as they use the sun for heating as well as lighting, and the materials used for walls provide temperature regulation within the home. No fossil fuels are needed for energy in these homes. The design of the thick walls allows them to be heated by the sun until the temperature in the room is lower than the temperature of the walls, at this time the walls will radiate heat back into the space. The earth roofs and walls keep the home cool in very hot climates.

Water is harvested and store in cisterns outside the home.  The water is caught from the roof and is heated by solar energy. A water organizing modules regulates the water through the home, is used about 4 times and is treated them onsite in botanical cells.

Earthship residents are able to harvest their own food in the Earthship greenhouses, with the effort to produce enough food to feed the residents of each home. Expanded food production capabilities can be built through larger greenhouses enabling residents to have fish, chickens and goats for meat, cheezes and milk.

I think this is a great example of sustainable development in practice and I think that we should all live in Earthships, at least I want to live in an Earthship. It is a great way to address our global warming issue and has many advantages in design and energy and water conservation. I’m really excited to know about Earthships because my family owns property in Chile, and my brother and sister have always talked about building an eco friendly house, but this idea seems so much better. I’ve already discussed this idea with them, and I can’t wait to get started!

You can get more information on the Earthship Biotecture Website.

The information obtained to write this blog was taken from the Earthship Biotecture website as well as from classmates.