Hackszine.com: Earthship - extreme off-grid architecture

Earthship - extreme off-grid architecture

This looks almost like having your own biosphere. Earthships are a pretty unique form of sustainable architecture that are compatible with a wide range of environments around the world. Each home is custom built to fit its particular environment, but there are a few things they all seem to have in common:

They are built from primarily reused materials. The load-bearing walls are actually constructed from old tires packed with dirt, and recycled cans and bottles are used as filler throughout non load-bearing concrete structures.
Passive-solar energy is used for heat regulation. They are smartly placed semi-embedded in a hill with south facing windows. This helps regulate the temperature even through drastic external temperature changes.
Off-grid solar and wind power are used to supply all electricity needs.
A rainwater capture system provides drinking water, which is then recycled into greenhouse water, then to toilet/waste water, before finally exiting to a self contained septic system.
The south side of the home functions as a greenhouse, which assists with water treatment as well as aesthetics and supplemental food.