October 2015: Hacking the Earthship was nominated for a Southwest Book Award!!
"Comprehensive Research. We
have been working towards an Earthship-type house (or berm house) for several
years now, and this is the most comprehensive review of the pro's and con's
I've found. It has validated concerns that we have had (such as over-heating),
addressed questions, and has already had an impact on our land search.
I don't think that it will dissuade us from off-grid living, and I still feel
that berm houses have distinct advantages, especially in the South, but I do
think that we will make a much more concerted effort to engage experienced
professionals for things like designing the PV system, pouring a concrete
foundation that is appropriate to our area (with appropriate insulation and
moisture barriers). Like most folks, we can't afford to build a house that is inhabitable
because we bought into the "anyone can just do it" mind-set.
I highly recommend this book."
"I have read every piece of Earthship literature available
and studied countless hours of video footage. Between the mid 90's and now,
there has been a serious lack of reasearch and documentation done on existing
buildings. What worked? What didn't? Thank you Rachel and contributors for this
wonderful piece, and for answering those questions. The various studies done in
different climates has been illuminating and we now know what specific
obstacles we face in our humid climate.
While the laws preventing Earthship construction need to be changed, people
need self-sustainable housing now! The suggestions and strategies offered in
this book are helping us navigate our local government bureaucracy in a
pragmatic manner. And not only will obtaining the necessary permits be easier,
but many of those changes we're making will also improve the Earthship's
performance. (like scrapping the tires altogether in favor of something less
labor intensive, higher performing, faster, and cheaper considering the
transportation and labor costs of 900+ tires).
This book is absolutely essential for anyone looking to build an Earthship in
the states. It is the missing manual."
"I read Hacking the Earthship today, and then explored your blog. The information is amazing, and I admire the way you put it all together, with a style that speaks for your integrity. I lived in Taos many years ago and have always planned to return... One of the things I find frustrating about the ... (typical earthship literature)... is a lack of transparency; it's hard to find simple facts about the process and the community. Thanks for sharing solid information and beautiful visions."
"Comprehensive Research. We
have been working towards an Earthship-type house (or berm house) for several
years now, and this is the most comprehensive review of the pro's and con's
I've found. It has validated concerns that we have had (such as over-heating),
addressed questions, and has already had an impact on our land search.
I don't think that it will dissuade us from off-grid living, and I still feel
that berm houses have distinct advantages, especially in the South, but I do
think that we will make a much more concerted effort to engage experienced
professionals for things like designing the PV system, pouring a concrete
foundation that is appropriate to our area (with appropriate insulation and
moisture barriers). Like most folks, we can't afford to build a house that is inhabitable
because we bought into the "anyone can just do it" mind-set.
I highly recommend this book."
- Cary Davis, reviewer at Amazon.com
"I have read every piece of Earthship literature available
and studied countless hours of video footage. Between the mid 90's and now,
there has been a serious lack of reasearch and documentation done on existing
buildings. What worked? What didn't? Thank you Rachel and contributors for this
wonderful piece, and for answering those questions. The various studies done in
different climates has been illuminating and we now know what specific
obstacles we face in our humid climate.
While the laws preventing Earthship construction need to be changed, people
need self-sustainable housing now! The suggestions and strategies offered in
this book are helping us navigate our local government bureaucracy in a
pragmatic manner. And not only will obtaining the necessary permits be easier,
but many of those changes we're making will also improve the Earthship's
performance. (like scrapping the tires altogether in favor of something less
labor intensive, higher performing, faster, and cheaper considering the
transportation and labor costs of 900+ tires).
This book is absolutely essential for anyone looking to build an Earthship in
the states. It is the missing manual."
- Neal Gist, reviewer Amazon.com
"I read Hacking the Earthship today, and then explored your blog. The information is amazing, and I admire the way you put it all together, with a style that speaks for your integrity. I lived in Taos many years ago and have always planned to return... One of the things I find frustrating about the ... (typical earthship literature)... is a lack of transparency; it's hard to find simple facts about the process and the community. Thanks for sharing solid information and beautiful visions."
- Melanie Sumner, author of How to Write a Novel,
