Earthships-Biotecture. near Taos, NM. I volunteered for three days, constructing can walls, digging this huge hole for a blackwater system, and mud plastering some interior walls. These houses use rammed earth tires for retaining walls, and large glass windows seen here for passive solar gain. All the rainwater is collected and energy produced on site. Earth"ship" is fitting since it's self contained within itself.
The use of aluminum cans as structural components to the cement walls is a good way to use trash, but can they be recycled efficiently instead of taking these high embodied energy material out of the industrial stream? We used lots of cement, is there not a permanent alternative that isn't going to increase in cost 30%+ due to Katrina.