Want to Build an Off Grid Home for less than $10,000? Try this
One of the most exciting things about natural building is the affordability and accessibility. Well it might take a little bit more physical effort than it would to do a conventional stick-built, the bulk of materials at your disposal are practically free. This makes it a very appealing option for folks with little upfront capital to invest in such a project. On top of that, the materials used are often less toxic and more eco-friendly than conventional alternatives. For example, Ryan Helpin’s Earthship project in High Desert Mesa of New Mexico should cost him less than $10,000, and it will be built almost entirely of either natural or reclaimed materials.
Ryan originally came up with the idea several years prior when he was working at his dad's tire shop back in Wisconsin. He was already doing his own research into building an off-grid in sustainable property when he came across Earthship architecture. It turned out to be everything he was looking for, so a few years later he decided to take the plunge. He ended up going to a seminar In Denver hosted by earthship pioneer Mike Reynolds. He came down to Taos to help Mike, and ultimately learn everything he needed to do to get started on his own project.
Earthships are particularly popular in desert regions as they have great thermal properties that are complemented by the surrounding environment. Due to good placement of windows and thermal mass, they are able to effectively regulate their own temperature passively using energy absorbed from the Sun throughout the day and giving off through the night. The thermal mass of most earthships is made up of numerous discarded tires that are then filled up with dirt and stacked. Since these tires would normally be discarded, building like this is a fantastic way to offset waste that would normally go into the landfill. Ryan was able to get his tires from two local tire shops that were more than happy to get rid of them.
These dirt-filled tires are 90% compacted, making them effective bricks with lots of mass to absorb energy throughout the day. When completely filled, each tire ends up weighing about 300 pounds. Because of this weight, it is very important to have each row of tires staggered so that they can lock into each other to provide the much needed structural integrity.
A lot of people use cement to chink the cracks in between the tires, but because of the environment that Ryan is building his house in, he is able to use Adobe which is made with the dirt available to him. This is made simply by adding straw and water. Once the Adobe has been built out to be flush with the tires, Ryan will be able to finish off the walls with plaster. This will prevent the tires from potentially off-gassing while also giving the walls their final finish.
For cooling, Ryan is using a 10 inch culvert pipe that is 20 ft long. This will run through the thickest part of the thermal Mass and allow outside air to circulate to the inside. Since the air will be passing through the cool Earth on the north side before it gets to the interior, it will act as a natural air conditioner. On the south-facing side of the building, Ryan will have the door and a series windows that will allow sun to come in and warm the place during the winter when it is lower in the sky. With operable windows at the top, he'll be able to vent out the hot air, creating a convection current that will pull in cool air from the back.
What Ryan aims to do with this project is to set an example. That with limited financial resources it is still possible to take control of your life. Before getting involved in this project Ryan was working 40 to 50 hour weeks and renting an apartment. Eventually he realized it wasn't a lifestyle that suited him. Coming out to the desert to build his own home opened his eyes to the ways that he can take agency over his own living situation in a way that is positive for the environment. The key, according to Ryan, is to simply take baby steps and confront the challenges as they come along.
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