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10 Reasons why EarthShips are a Good Idea..

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Marley Farley, Aug 21, 2014.

  1. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    I have not seen this idea before.. What do you think.?
    EarthShip
     
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    • Jiffy

      Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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      I think it's a good idea, Zigs will want one,
      It will make things easyer if you have a bank/hill so that you can build into, don't think it's any good in Holland
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Like all this kind of stuff its pie in the sky.
        Cant imagine the housing associations around the country putting up this kind of thing to solve the housing crisis.
        Good for a few but not much use to the many.
         
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        • Adendoll

          Adendoll Super Gardener

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          It think I remember a similar house built on grand designs, some years ago. In France if I remember correctly.
          As it says in the related thread Europe seems more open to these projects.
          I do like it Marley, the simplicity belies the ingenuity of the structure.
          I could quite happily live there, but for one niggle.
          My only question would be on the stability of the tyres used. Whether there would be any toxins emitting from them as they degenerate.
          I worry about food grown in tyres too, for same reasons.
          Couldn't put an evidenced based argument up to defend my concerns, just my irrational worry.
           
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          • Lea

            Lea Super Gardener

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            I've seen this sort of thing in America and they are wonderful. They take an adjustment but once it all gets going it is an amazing way of living. :)
             
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            • Marley Farley

              Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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              I agree about the stability of the tyres, I know they generate heat within themselves, as there have been long slow burning fires at tyre dumps, but otherwise I think it is a great idea.. Probably take a bit of persuasion here though with planners, but yes it does appeal to the individual rather than the masses..
               
            • Phil A

              Phil A Guest

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              Good idea if you can get round building regs, they don't know what to make of them.

              I'm enjoying not having an electricity bill, and my cooking gas costs £1 a week :)
               
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              • Lolimac

                Lolimac Guest

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                I think they're a great idea,only snag round here is finding a piece of land where they aren't already intending to build on:mad:
                 
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                • Marley Farley

                  Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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                  Yep land is premium here too Loli..
                   
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  As already said, pure pie in the sky.
                  To be self sufficient the land cost alone would be prohibitive.
                  A self sufficient greenhouse would be the size of a detached three bedroom bungalow.
                  The cost of enough solar would be mad, plus wind turbines. And a pond for fish to farm would need a lot of electricity to keep it viable.
                  You would need another mortgage after you'd sold your three bed detached in a nice area to build one so as a result it would rather defeat the object of the whole exercise.

                  Nice idea, just not realistic.
                   
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                  • NorthantsGeezer

                    NorthantsGeezer Total Gardener

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                    I think I have seen one of these on Grand designs. I find them interesting. Not sure they are for me though.
                     
                  • clueless1

                    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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                    I think these ideas are brilliant, but they'll never catch on in the UK for one simple reason. A bunch of bored old people sat in a planning office will reject the planning permission for them, on the basis that they are not 'in keeping with the local surroundings' or some such rubbish. Unless you can get a developer that is willing to 'lubricate the wheels' a bit with a cash donation to a charity of the planning officer's choice, but if there is no profit for the developer, that's not going to happen.
                     
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                    • Val..

                      Val.. Confessed snail lover

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                      Nice idea but they take up far too much space.


                      Val
                       
                    • Marley Farley

                      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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                      I think all these things are individual choice to be honest.. So many people have come up with all sorts of designs, but usually in countries where there is plenty of space a far more relaxed planning laws.. Always nice to see though as I find them all very interesting, some of them have made fantastic underground Hobbit type sustainable homes.. There a few here in the UK of different variations..
                       
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                      • Adendoll

                        Adendoll Super Gardener

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                        Maybe I am being naive, but I have often wondered if folk living in hurricane zones would not benefit from looking at more underground living ideas?
                         
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