Workshop TA

I'd like to build the Earthship on a large plot of land with a lot of trees (>10 acres at least 20% forested).

Areas

The structure will be long and narrow. The wider it is, the taller the roof needs to be. It will be 16' wide. It can be as long as needed and I can have one end cut to accommodate expansion.

Office

Computer desk and electronics desk, 12x12 should be fine. This is also where the automation computers will live.

Bathroom

Not a large area consideration, but adds the complexity of a cesspool or methane digester. This is optional as I'll already have one in the tiny house.

Kitchen

Doesn't need to be fancy, but I'll need it to process some of the food and to eat while I'm onsite. After completion, I'll use this for canning and vinting so I can keep those supplies out of the house. Again, optional. I can use the tiny house or even just limit myself to uncooked food while I'm on site.

• 3 basin sink
• gas burner
• work table
• lots of storage

I won't need an oven, fridge or dishwasher.

Shop

Holds all the tools and I need room to work. On the larger side 15x60?

Larger static tools will live along the edges of the shop. The center will be open with doors at both ends so that larger things (like trees) can be processed.

The rafters need to be fairly strong because I will use them for wood storage. I'll setup one or two kilns up there so that new wood can be dried out. Then I'll just stack it off to the sides.

Systems Area

Hold water tanks, water pump, wood stove, gasifier, sewage handling. Should probably be close to the office because that's where all the automation hardware will live.

Mushrooms

Should be fairly small, but getting the systems setup will be tricky. Certainly not something I need setup to start with, but it will be good to reserve space in the floor plan.

Tower

This is a maybe, but it's intriguing. If I had a tower that was 100ft tall, storing water at the top would provide pressure. And I could mount one hell of wind turbine on it. But it's structurally very complex.

Systems

Electrical

Solar and wood gasification. The system needs to be able to maintain itself on solar. Gasification can be use when I'm there to provide extra power to run the shop. It may also be worth putting a few wind turbines along the peak of the roof. I would also like room to add plastic pyrolysis to produce fuels, mostly diesel.

I'll need deep cycle batteries to store the power, though I shouldn't need much. I'll need a way to dissipate excess power safely.

There will need to be transformer equipment to step power up to 110 and I'll need an electrical box. I should try to run as much off DC power as possible.

Thermal

Semi passive cooling should be enough (pumping air through under ground passages to cool it) to keep it functionally cool in the summer. I want a wood stove to keep it warm in the winter and this will give me a chance to test out that system before the complete build.

Water

While the system will eventually require a lot of water, it cycle rate is very low. I think I can get by with rain water collection. That's going to be it's own system. An open basin fills to a set level then flows into the filtering system allowing large particles to settle in the basin, which can be cleaned out easily. This might be a good spot for a bell siphon. I can let the basin freeze, but not the internal parts of the filter.

The first stage of filtration will be gravel and sand. Another overflow style so that the water has to flow to the bottom of the tank, then up to the outflow. The next stage will be a mesh filter. I may need a UV stage to kill bacteria, but I'm not sure.

My earlier tests with methane were unsuccessful, but they were also limited. I think I can get a system working here. See Earthship Septic.

It's tempting to place the water in the house, but the water system will be tightly integrated with the thermal systems which are integrated with the energy systems. So I'll end up running a lot of pipes underground between the house and the shop, but oh well.

Build Order

Pre Setup

The major thing I'm missing that will be needed for this is welding and machining. I don't think I need much, but a good welder and a basic lath and mill will probably be necessary.

• Sawmill
• Gasifier
• Generator
• CEB press

Initial Setup

I'm not sure what the construction approach will be, but it should at least partially mirror the complete build. Regardless, I think I can lay out the main supports and build the roof first. Then I can get the ground leveled. This will give me a large work area, even if it is open.

Walls

Get the external walls up, then (if necessary, depending on material) add insulation.

Internal

Setup the internal walls and start getting the systems setup.