Earthship New Zealand

Living for tomorrow, today...

Monthly Archives: February 2011

Notthinghamshire to build an Earthship Visitors Centre

The centre’s design is based on a form of self-sufficient building known as an earthship, which was pioneered in New Mexico 25 years ago.  Anthony Thistleton-Smith, of architects Waugh Thistleton, said the original design was geared towards the climate in New Mexico and it didn’t work in Britain.  “We want to develop it more appropriately for the UK climate and make it look more modern,” he said.  “This will be great for Newstead but will also have a bigger benefit in creating a new building type. We are trying to save the planet in small steps.”

You can read the full article here.

Where is the best place to build an Earthship in New Zealand?

Question:  I’m interested in possibly builing an Earthship in New Zealand and wanted some more info as far as best places to build, such as earthship friendly land, and so forth.

There is no comprehensive list of Earthship-friendly locations in NZ.  As there is no state legislature in NZ, just Federal law, the Building Standards and Regulations apply uniformly throughout the country.  Where differences come in, is at the Regional Plan level where there might be specific requirements that need to be observed (landscaping, water use etc).

By and large the Building Code is fine with Rammed Earth Tyre construction where it can prove it meets the performance standards as set out in the building codes.  The Gubb Earthship in the Waikato had reinforcing rods through the tyre walls (which is not the Biotecture standard used elsewhere in the world) in order to pass inspection.  Depending on your preference (and the depth of your pockets) you could adopt anything from getting a NZ Engineer’s report to say the standard Earthship build meets the Code; to building the tyre walls within a standard timber frame (as was demonstrated by Mike Reynolds in Japan if I recall correctly). 

The key message I offer is that anyone attempting to build an Earthship in NZ, must ensure they get planning consent and permits.  The worst outcome for addressing society’s problem with Earthships; would be that they get a name for themselves as ‘hippy lean-to shacks’ only good for bulldozing.

As far as good places to build goes, a number of local councils now employ eco-building advisors who offer their services and advice freely.  I know Hamilton has one and there are other regional councils with them.  Hooking up with one of them to guide you through the consent process would definitely make a big difference.

Some of the building-services might prove challenging.  Whilst rural NZ has been using septic tanks and treating sewage locally for hundreds of years on a large scale; some of the grey water re-use concepts in Earthships challenge the conventional wisdom.  This is mainly to do with what you would be allowed to grow in it (although I don’t see the Building Control Officer paying a surprise visit to check your Begonias aren’t Broccoli!).

Its also worth noting that opting out of council rates is prohibited in some jurisdictions.  As they argue that even if you live in a self-contained home; the roads, footpaths and parks you enjoy as a user still need to be paid for.  But hey, if Rates are the only thing you end up paying for, then you’re still onto a winner.

My current biggest concern about where to build an Earthship in NZ, is the cost of bare land in the first place.  Sadly everyone that has ever wanted to try their hand at property development has bought every spare paddock from Farmer Brown, stuck survey pegs in it and flogged it off for a cool million.  I could go on but that is best reserved for a long winter’s evening and many bottles of wine…

If you can find the right place to build from an affordability point of view, such that it leaves you enough money to overcome code-compliance challenges, then I’d take it and start ramming tyres. 

We all know NZ and the world would be better for it.

The Peak Oil Conundrum for Earthships

Hopefully this website is fair testimony to the fact that we are committed to one day living in our own Earthship in New Zealand.  In the meantime I have to bear the stress of leaving that dream unfulfilled, which doesn’t sit very comfortably.  In thinking about what holds us back from realising the Earthship dream in NZ, I realised the following:

  1. Land is too expensive to be able to build straight away (bare land, of the right size, in the right location)
    So? Go find land that you can afford to build on
  2. But the land that I can afford is too far away from key community, infrastructure and economic opportunities [schools, work and hospitals (for work)]. 
    So? Commute
  3. But commuting in a conventional sense flies in the face of the whole point of living in a Earthship.  What’s the point of living in a home that costs US$100/year to run if petrol in the future costs you $5 per litre or higher?
    So? You have a choice: accept the higher price of land that gets away from the need to commute or protect yourself from peak oil fuel price hikes by finding a solution to that problem.

So this is where I have got to and I feel its probably not a unique position for many people contemplating the move to an Earthship lifestyle.  I’m no Grisly Adams and I need to be part of a large community and the world around me to be happy.  If people could unlock the solution to the transport problem by either ensuring that renewable and public transport options (Bikes & Boats and Bus & Train services) or alternative fuels were available; then I think there would be less holding people back from having a go.

I guess this goes to prove that you can’t just seek Earthships as a solution in isolation.  Overall you need to be looking at Transition Town tools like Energy Decent Action Plans in all aspects of your life (and not just housing).  You also need to understand how you will meet your economic and social needs with an Earthship – as often people make large lifestyle changes (moves to small farms etc), only to find themselves willingly moving back to their old lifestyle, as all their needs weren’t catered to.  In NZ, Lifestyle Blocks anecdotally change hands on average every three years, representing the typical length of time before people find the commute or isolation from social groups isn’t working for them.

It’s a conundrum, so it doesn’t have an easy answer.  At this point it is probably worth leaving the matter out their for other’s to contemplate and comment.