Taupo has been earmarked as the spot for the “Biosphere of the 21st century” with plans to build an off-grid housing community.
But, unlike its flower power forebears, hippies need not apply to the scheme, the brainchild of the New Zealand Clean Energy Centre.
“There is probably a perception that what you are going to end up with is a bunch of hippies, but rather our target will be white collar workers,” said the centre’s CEO, Rob McEwan.
The pool of potential community dwellers would include Kiwis and those from overseas.
“For instance, young, affluent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are scouting around New Zealand at present looking for land,” Mr McEwan said.
“They are looking to get out of the US, live in a community with good water resources and establish a sustainable and `local’ lifestyle.” New Zealand could “easily” rise to be the No1 choice for them, Mr McEwan said.
“We are politically neutral, almost 80 per cent of our electricity is generated from renewables, we have ample water and we are friendly to Americans.
“So then the question for Taupo becomes how can we lure them to our community?”
A survey is being conducted by the centre to gauge interest in the concept, he said, and it could get off the ground as soon as a suitable developer comes on board.
The communal vegetable gardens and septic tanks will still be there, he said, but so too will be some of the mod cons of our futuristic lifestyles, including wi-fi internet and telephone services.
“This is about attracting people who have disconnected from the world, so to speak, who need only their laptop and smartphone to work and can travel anywhere and still work,” Mr McEwan said.
The development would comprise half-acre sections and the actual houses would be simple designs that resemble any ordinary Waikato development.
The family-style homes would be heated via geothermal or biomass sources, and electricity supplied via solar or wind energy.
Wastewater would be drip irrigated to energy crops that would provide future fuel for the community. Water would be supplied via rainwater collection.
“The large section would allow for things like large garden spaces, which could be private or shared, and septic tanks,” he said.
And how much would a slice of green living go for? “It is an unknown cost at this stage, but part of the vision is providing affordable housing.
“We would be looking at a range of homes, all under $500,000.” Owners would also have to pay about $60,000 for renewable energy technology add-on costs, he said.
What is the point of attracting Americans? As you say there are people from the US who know that
they/we have to live sustainably. If they leave their home country then the US wont have the people it needs. At the same time the country they go to, in this case NZ, will avoid the necessary social changes needed to live in harmony with its resource base. Its a double loose situation. There is a great need to educate all societies to be happy, live simply and not think that “the grass is greener over there”
I agree with the comments made above by Sucinno. But I would also like to add that the idea of building an earthship is that a healthy home is within the reach of all. An earthship should not have to cost $500,000! If it does, then this project will not succeed in conveying the ethos behind earthship building, and that this will be yet another doomed project, obtainable only by an elite, moneyed, few; and yes, why target Americans, when they have their own wildernesses. The world is Americanised enough, time to let local cultures have an opportunity to build thier own healthy communities.
In just want to add that in a development selling itself as a an eco/self sufficient community it would make absolutely no sense to use ‘septic tanks’ thus wasting a valuable resource and breaking the nutrient cycle that would be necessary to live in harmony with the land. Perhaps the ‘hippies’ who need not apply to be part of this scheme could teach you a thing or two.
Earth ships are taking off!! Where are the positive, supportive, enthusiastic comments guys? What a priviledge to live in NZ. I’m almost tempted to cross the strait and hop on board, just to be one of the pioneers to experience life in a home that will become the norm for us all in the future. I’m very excited and I take my hat off to the authorities over there who are embracing these concepts and turning a visionary’s dream into a greatly needed reality. I would love to see the Aussies follow suit – I’d definitely put my name down on the waiting list for one of these superbly designed, eco-friendly, self-sustainable homes!
To be honest, I don’t like the sound of this at all. the whole idea of ‘earthships’ and ‘earthship communities’ is to be SELF sufficient.
This is just another way of controlling people- homes under $500,000? $60,000 for renewable energy technology? wi-fi, internet, cellphone services? Simple designs that resemble any ordinary Waikato development, (I couldn’t think of anything worse).
Even when it comes to clean green thinking, these ‘business people’ feel the need to jump on in and take control and label those who want a better future for our own sake and the earth’s sake as ‘hippies’, what a joke!
Well said Sucinno, Lorrie and Bradley Jane! I totally agree.