NationStates Jolt Archive

Would you live in a house like this?

http://www.lowcarbon.co.uk/earthships.html

I would...

Since these homes dont require being hooked up to a powergrid, or water supply, you save a ton of money each year on utility costs, or sanitation.

Also, if you drove a Toyota Prius , a gas/electric hybrid, you save a TON of money each year by not buy gas.

If this were me, I'd save over four thousand dollars each year.

If you invested four thousand dollars each year, wisely, you'd be wealthy in 20 years, easy.

And not be a big pain in the ass to the planet, either.

Thoughts?

What about initial cost?

What about initial cost?


Well, the cost of the homes vary, because thier completely customizable.

But for a three bedroom, 2 bath home, you would expect to pay about 55-80 K including the land.

Doesn't mean we have to be Green. That house looks pretty awesome. How much power do the photovoltaic cells give? It is solar powered, right?

Doesn't mean we have to be Green. That house looks pretty awesome. How much power do the photovoltaic cells give? It is solar powered, right?


Yes.

You have a series of solar batteries that are charged by panels.

Often, you could sell your excess power BACK to the electric company.

Imagine getting a check FROM the power company each month.

Sweet. Evil power companies...

Of course you better hope you dont have neighbors who like playing baseball. Then theres the cost of the filters for the rainwater. I don't even want to think how the toilet works in this place if it isnt hooked up to the grid.

Heres a site with some pictures of these homes.

Theres even one valued at over four million dollars.

http://www.earthship.org/gallery/

Wouldn't work here. Aside from very frequent precipitation (which of course means clouds), during the winter snow would cover the solar panels, making them utterly useless. Shovelling my driveway and steps every day in winter is enough of a pain. I'm not climbing on top of my house to shovel solar panels.

Well, the cost of the homes vary, because thier completely customizable.

But for a three bedroom, 2 bath home, you would expect to pay about 55-80 K including the land.

Where is this? Where I live you can barely buy a car for that much money...

Where is this? Where I live you can barely buy a car for that much money...

probably somewhere in arizona or nevada. Thats the only place houses like that work.

Of course you better hope you dont have neighbors who like playing baseball. Then theres the cost of the filters for the rainwater. I don't even want to think how the toilet works in this place if it isnt hooked up to the grid.


Thats the best part.

The houses use different sytems for reclycling.

Greywater, like drinking water, laundry and dishwater are recycled by plants in your home.

Blackwater, like anything you flush.....gets recycled and put back into the ground.

All you need, is at least one inch of rainfall a year.

probably somewhere in arizona or nevada. Thats the only place houses like that work.


Nope.

You can have one built anywhere, for about the same cost as a normal home.

In the county that I live in...this little shack here:

http://www.mynassauproperty.com/images/photos/4580/04062++04580-0.jpg


Current Appraised Value (100%) Valuation Date of 1/1/04

Land Value $224,400
Building Value $107,500
Total $331,900

Wouldn't work here. Aside from very frequent precipitation (which of course means clouds), during the winter snow would cover the solar panels, making them utterly useless. Shovelling my driveway and steps every day in winter is enough of a pain. I'm not climbing on top of my house to shovel solar panels.


Actually, you need something like one fairly sunny day, in 20, to keep the solar batteries fully charged.

Also, notice that the panels aere slanted to avoid snow accumulation.

And you really have to live out in the middle of the nowhere to have the house because no city state or county would let you just drop waste into the ground. Also I highly doubt the system can just keep recycling one inch of rainwater. No matter how big those tanks are, an average shower uses approx. 20 gallons of water a minute.

And you really have to live out in the middle of the nowhere to have the house because no city state or county would let you just drop waste into the ground. Also I highly doubt the system can just keep recycling one inch of rainwater. No matter how big those tanks are, an average shower uses approx. 20 gallons of water a minute.


If you lived in a urban area, you would have to be hooked up to city sanitation, but your also charged by how much you use, these homes would use significantly less than a normal home.

As for water, its all true.
Thats the point of these houses, is to recycle the re-usable water, and produce thier own electricity.

Read the info on the site, its all there.

Actually, you need something like one fairly sunny day, in 20, to keep the solar batteries fully charged.

Also, notice that the panels aere slanted to avoid snow accumulation.

So is my roof. But wet snow is very sticky, and once it freezes you have a solid sheet of ice. That gives more traction still, and more snow builds up. Unless the sheets are built at (nearly) a 90 degree angle, it's going to stick.

Moreover, what happens when wind blows snow towards the panels instead of it dropping straight down? I mean, we'll assume they are at 90 degrees, making them useless for solar power. Blowing snow is still going to be hitting them dead on, and sticking.

As per the charging time, the question is how long the solar batteries last. Even that is variable, as the more technology (T.V.'s, radios, computers, video game systems, appliances, washers, dryers) the person has, the more it uses up.

So is my roof. But wet snow is very sticky, and once it freezes you have a solid sheet of ice. That gives more traction still, and more snow builds up. Unless the sheets are built at (nearly) a 90 degree angle, it's going to stick.

Moreover, what happens when wind blows snow towards the panels instead of it dropping straight down? I mean, we'll assume they are at 90 degrees, making them useless for solar power. Blowing snow is still going to be hitting them dead on, and sticking.

As per the charging time, the question is how long the solar batteries last. Even that is variable, as the more technology (T.V.'s, radios, computers, video game systems, appliances, washers, dryers) the person has, the more it uses up.


How hard would it be to go outside with a broom and sweep off the snow?
You dont actually have to climb up on the roof, becuase the homes are partially subterranian.

As for the batteries, as you say, it would depend on how much you use, of course.

Honestly though, it seems to be far more practical to use these in warmer environments.

How hard would it be to go outside with a broom and sweep off the snow?
You dont actually have to climb up on the roof, becuase the homes are partially subterranian.

As for the batteries, as you say, it would depend on how much you use, of course.

If you've ever had to scrape a car windshield in winter, you'll have an appreciate for just how hard it is. :p Let's put it this way. My current electric solution requires me to do nothing during winter. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

This solution requires me to get up early (noting the panels have to be clear while the sun is up, which is even less during winter), go out in the cold and snow, and in addition to the normal shovelling that comes with it, dust off... what... 7 or 8 panels at least, I'm guessing? In addition to it.

Every single day for... oh... 4 or 5 months. That's Newfoundland winter. From around late November/ early December until March, I'm going to have to 'sweep' them every day, in perpetuity, for the rest of my life.

When I have a 3 month old child who doesn't stay asleep through the night, I'll have to do it. When I've pulled 4 hours of overtime for work and just want to stay in bed, I'm going to have to do it. When I'm sick, I'm going to have to do it. When I'm old and can't walk properly, I'll have to do it.

And the funniest part? I'll have to do it more than once a day. Because the snow will keep accumulating. Within 2 hours of snow at most, my work will be undone.

Or I can pay my electric company to provide me with power, at no hassle other than writing a cheque. I like how easy that sounds.

Honestly though, it seems to be far more practical to use these in warmer environments.


Well, I would'nt live in one of these in Antarctica, but then I wouldnt want to live in a place like that at all....

But all you need is a few good sunny days a month, and it doesnt matter where you put em.

There is a reason that the original experiments took place in New Mexico...

I mean sure these things are pretty cool, and I bet that are really good for the environment. I am not protesting that, just saying that you have use them with a little bit of discretion.

If you've ever had to scrape a car windshield in winter, you'll have an appreciate for just how hard it is. :p Let's put it this way. My current electric solution requires me to do nothing during winter. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

This solution requires me to get up early (noting the panels have to be clear while the sun is up, which is even less during winter), go out in the cold and snow, and in addition to the normal shovelling that comes with it, dust off... what... 7 or 8 panels at least, I'm guessing? In addition to it.

Every single day for... oh... 4 or 5 months. That's Newfoundland winter. From around late November/ early December until March, I'm going to have to 'sweep' them every day, in perpetuity, for the rest of my life.

When I have a 3 month old child who doesn't stay asleep through the night, I'll have to do it. When I've pulled 4 hours of overtime for work and just want to stay in bed, I'm going to have to do it. When I'm sick, I'm going to have to do it. When I'm old and can't walk properly, I'll have to do it.

And the funniest part? I'll have to do it more than once a day. Because the snow will keep accumulating. Within 2 hours of snow at most, my work will be undone.

Or I can pay my electric company to provide me with power, at no hassle other than writing a cheque. I like how easy that sounds.

In fact, If Im not mistaken, the panels may even be warmer than the snow itself, cuasing the snow to melt on contact.

I live in Michigan, and we get just as much snow and bullshit as you guys do, maybe more....(remember were surrounded by the Great Lakes, so we get what we call "Lake effect snow")

If you live in a climate like that, you have to expect to deal with it.

As for me, if I could save over four thousand dollars a year by doing a little snow removal, thats not so bad.

In fact, If Im not mistaken, the panels may even be warmer than the snow itself, cuasing the snow to melt on contact.

I live in Michigan, and we get just as much snow and bullshit as you guys do, maybe more....(remember were surrounded by the Great Lakes, so we get what we call "Lake effect snow")

If you live in a climate like that, you have to expect to deal with it.

As for me, if I could save over four thousand dollars a year by doing a little snow removal, thats not so bad.

I apologize if I seemed harsh in my evaluation; by all means, if you want to build one of those houses, more power to you. I'm just saying that I prefer a standard house. Money isn't something I care much about, as long as I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach, I'm fine.

One the flip side, hassle is something I have in overabundance. Currently I'm trying to lessen my stress, the last thing I need is something adding to it. o.o;

I apologize if I seemed harsh in my evaluation; by all means, if you want to build one of those houses, more power to you. I'm just saying that I prefer a standard house. Money isn't something I care much about, as long as I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach, I'm fine.

One the flip side, hassle is something I have in overabundance. Currently I'm trying to lessen my stress, the last thing I need is something adding to it. o.o;


Well, the thing is, Im not much of a tree hugger myself...
But, if I could live in a nice home that is nearly self sufficient like these are, and save a ton of money each year by doing it...

That seems like a pretty cool thing....

If the house is connected to the power grid, then whenever you don't feel like scraping snow off the solar panels or there isn't enough sun, then you use whatever electricity the power company can offer. You can compare the costs which means the free market offers a solution once again! Hurray!

On an earlier post. The panels may be warmer than snow for a while, but not for too long. It would require a massive amount of energy to keep those panels heated.

If the house is connected to the power grid, then whenever you don't feel like scraping snow off the solar panels or there isn't enough sun, then you use whatever electricity the power company can offer. You can compare the costs which means the free market offers a solution once again! Hurray!

On an earlier post. The panels may be warmer than snow for a while, but not for too long. It would require a massive amount of energy to keep those panels heated.


It would if you were to actually use an electric heating element.
But much like a car window, even in winter, the sun probably warms it up enough that most of the snow that accumulated melts off.

and, as you point out, if you were actually hooked up to the grid, you would only pay for whatever you actually use.....if you dont use external power very often.....

Remember that the homes heat themsleves....

It seems like you would have to live in the middle of no where for this.

I am sure no neighborhood is going to allow you to build one of these. Most likely the residents will get a petition, or dig up some kind of housing violation.

It seems like you would have to live in the middle of no where for this.

I am sure no neighborhood is going to allow you to build one of these. Most likely the residents will get a petition, or dig up some kind of housing violation.


Nope...its all good.

Theres one about two miles from my house, and I live right in town.

But much like a car window, even in winter, the sun probably warms it up enough that most of the snow that accumulated melts off.

For car windows at least, unsurprisingly, it doesn't. :p If the sun was warm enough to melt the snow on the windshield, it would be warm enough to melt the snow on the ground, and we wouldn't have snow at all. ;)

For car windows at least, unsurprisingly, it doesn't. :p If the sun was warm enough to melt the snow on the windshield, it would be warm enough to melt the snow on the ground, and we wouldn't have snow at all. ;)


Not true really,
Glass is far easier to heat up than the ground.
Thats why , when it snows, and your windshield gets all coverd, or partially covered, but then the sun comes out, even though its cold, the sun warms the glass enough so that the snow melts off.

Glass conducts heat better.

Not true really,
Glass is far easier to heat up than the ground.
Thats why , when it snows, and your windshield gets all coverd, or partially covered, but then the sun comes out, even though its cold, the sun warms the glass enough so that the snow melts off.

Glass conducts heat better.

How is the sun reaching the glass? :p It is often covered in (quite literally) 3 or 4 inches of snow. While miniscule amounts of light may slip through, the fact that the windshield is packed in pounds of below zero snow and ice negates any heat it brings entirely.

I've lived in Quebec for 10 years, and Newfoundland for nearly 13. I've seen my share of winters, and cars covered in snow. While no disrespect intended, unless we're talking about a light powdering, the snow won't melt. And if it's a light powdering, the snow wouldn't matter much at all.