Hi All, I am currently in the process of looking at what kind of design would suit ours needs best. We like the earthship but we aren't too crazy about the looks of the global model. Also the idea of building a wall out of tires and basically garbage might not be the healthiest environment to live in (fumes etc..). Our location is in baja california sur(mexico), plenty of sun, hardly no rain except during huricane season. In addition we have the luxury (and problem) of our lot being about 400 meters from the ocean with not much in between (salty and sandy air). Could anyone tell me which base materials I should look into for the structure (floor, walls, roof) of the house? Tires are a bit of a no-go but perhaps we are being over-concerned. From what I read on adobe it doesn't seem right for the location we are in. I am not looking to fix up the walls once a year. Any information is appreciated!

New growth lumber is about as green and affordable as it gets.

If you actually look at housing as something to be built properly and last several lifetimes, reinforced concrete is about as green as it gets, especially when you are talking about something in contact with the ground. Sure, there are other materials with less of an initial carbon footprint, but when you look at the carbon footprint of all the construction crews that have to come and tear down your home and build a new one in 60 years or so, whats the point when you could have done it right the first time and had a home that lasted 200 years. Also, concrete walls have built in thermal mass, just add insulation to the outside. You could polish the concrete floors, so there is a big savings in materials. You can just coat the walls as is with your finish of choice.

Need to find a better carpenter if your house only lasts 60 years LOL

Cement = huge CO2 emissions.

I have looked at to many of the "dime a dozen" houses that were being tossed up in subdivisions over the past ten years to put faith in any carpenter without looking over their shoulder at everything they do. I honestly don't expect many of them to be here in 60 years without major structural revisions.

The reason I brought up concrete, which I typically don't suggest for housing, is that the poster specifically wanted an earthship, and when it comes into being in contact with the ground, nothing is better than concrete. Also, since concrete can be finished, there will be no reason to have to buy flooring, drywall, ect. How much carbon is produces in the manufacture of all of those products. Also, since this is an earthship, which typically rely heavily on thermal mass, putting up wood and drywalling over it puts more R value between the inside of your house and the thermal mass, which is the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. Concrete not only keeps the thermal contact between the room and the mass high, it also acts as mass for the house as well.