Eco Maco

Comfortable inside, with no fossil fuels – in any Climate

One of the most recently built Packaged Earthships reports a maximum low temperature of 64 degrees (for a brief time) early in the morning before sunrise after two cloudy days and a minus seventeen degree winter night. This is with no back up heating system what-so-ever. Newer models will expect 68 degrees to be the maximum low in similar conditions. This design has been built in hot wet climates and cold wet climates and has the potential of being slightly “tuned” to deal with a variety of extremes while not changing the basic building.

Building Features
• Construction Material – Typically built with earth-rammed tires, but designs are also available for straw bale, concrete, or adobe at extra cost.
• Thermal Wrap – Rigid insulation around the building to isolate 6′ x 6′ block of mass from outer earth to stabilize comfort of interior space.
• Electrical – Solar electricity with capabilities of wind, gas generator or conventional utility back up / grid-intertie.
• Water Heating – Gas on demand hot water with capability of solar hot water addition.
• Water Supply – Roof catchment water system into water storage cistern with capability of well or community water back up.
• Waste Water Treatment – Contained grey water and black water treatment and distribution system with capability of conventional septic or community sewage connection.
• Heating / Cooling / Ventilation – Solar, thermal heating and cooling with option of gas or fireplace back up.
• Appliances – Gas cooking, gas or solar electric refrigerators.

Square Footage Costs
The average contractor built construction costs for turn key Packaged Earthships with independent systems is similar to wood frame housing without independent systems. With Earthship Biotecture building the shell and systems and the owner/builder completing the finishes, the average cost can be less than typical wood frame housing. Construction Drawings are aimed at the owner builder. Specialists can be made available to guide the project at any level.

Packaged Nest Earthship:
The smallest Packaged Earthship, 607 square feet. The structural shell can be enclosed in two weeks time.

Construction Drawings
Construction drawings aimed at the owner/builder and suitable for obtaining a building permit.
* To order construction drawings, contact us here or call our offices at 505-751-0462

Packaged Earthship Drawings start at $5,500

CONSULTATION: $200/HR $100/ half hour

Packaged Earthship Rentals:
Packaged Earthships can be viewed and experienced (as nightly rentals) at the Greater World Community in Taos, New Mexico by calling 505 751 0462.

The design of all automobiles is basically the same – a gasoline engine that propels a cabin for people to travel in. This design can be executed in a variety of ways; some resulting in very economical cars and some resulting in luxurious automobiles. The Packaged Earthship is very similar. The basic design is proven to perform and can be executed in a bare bones economical way or in a luxurious custom dream home application. The bottom line is that both the bare bones and the luxury approach can be assured of performing as per the proven basic design.

History of the Packaged Earthship
After 25 years of evolving the Earthship concept in terms of both performance and cost, the Packaged Earthship is the result. Much of the conceptual development and rationale is discussed in the Earthship Volumes I, II, and III as well as the the new book Comfort In Any Climate.

These books are recommended reading for anyone about to embark on the journey of obtaining their own sustainable Earthship. The Packaged Earthship is sized, detailed and arranged for optimum performance of the independent power, water, sewage and comfort control systems. In addition, the factors of cost and user friendly construction and detailing were also considerations in determining the design of this unit.