Earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30K

16

Published -

As a kid Steve Rees played in caves and learned how the earth could cool.

As an adult, he buried two shipping containers and created an off-grid retirement home for himself and his wife Shirley.

After a few years of camping on their 10 acre plot in Northern California, they bought two shipping containers, hired an excavator and got to work. Doing most of the work themselves, their finished home cost them $30,000 (solar included). Their 640-square-foot space cost them less than $50 per square foot.

Rees explains that while this is less than conventional construction costs, the savings only begin with construction. With a solar-powered well, a bit of propane and solar tubes for most of their light, they haven’t had any city water or electric bills since 2002. Winter temperatures in their home (even during 20 degrees outside) never fall below 62 degrees (an RV catalytic heater is sufficient for heating). Even when the temperature rises to 110 outside in the summer, their home has never risen above 82 degrees.

When they asked the county about permitting they were told they “didn’t have a permit for burying containers”. They have been inspected since completing their home and they have a permitted septic system and a permitted well, just no permit for a single family dwelling.

How does living in the earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home reduce carbon footprint and promote a more sustainable lifestyle?

With the rising demand for sustainable and affordable housing, a new trend in eco-friendly living has emerged in recent years – the use of shipping containers as building foundations. These containers, made from durable steel, have proven to be an efficient and cost-effective solution to the housing crisis. One of the latest innovations in this field is the creation of an earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for just $30,000.

This low-cost home was designed and built by Paul Chambers, an architect with the Texas-based firm, Architecture and Design. The project aimed to provide affordable, sustainable housing for people seeking to live off-grid, away from the pressures of urban life. Chambers’ design philosophy involves utilizing natural energy sources such as the sun, wind, and earth to create self-sufficient and harmonious living spaces.

The underground CA home is constructed by digging a large hole, big enough to accommodate shipping containers, and then installing them underground. The containers are bolted together to form a solid foundation, then covered with a layer of earth, creating an insulating effect. This method of construction can save up to 80% on energy costs, as the earth maintains a constant temperature of around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, providing natural cooling and heating.

To make the home even more energy efficient, Chambers installed a solar panel system to generate electricity, a rainwater catchment system to collect water, and a composting toilet system to reduce water usage. The living space is small but functional, with a bed, a kitchenette, and a living area, all contained within the shipping containers.

The underground CA home is not only an affordable and sustainable housing solution, but it is also a statement about our changing relationship with the environment. By living in a self-sufficient way, homeowners reduce their carbon footprint and live in harmony with nature. This innovative design also encourages people to think creatively about how they can use existing resources in new ways, and to embrace a minimalist lifestyle that focuses on what is truly necessary.

As we face the challenges of climate change and the housing crisis, the earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home is a beacon of hope. It shows that sustainable, affordable housing is possible and can be achieved with imagination, resourcefulness, and a commitment to living in harmony with the earth.

9.2 Total Score

User Rating: 4.6 (25 votes)
Read More
Filter by
Post Page
Outdoors House Interviews And Interesting News Luxury Lifestyle Documentaries Twitter Instagram Reddit Film & Animation
Sort by
How to Grow Raspberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries in Containers

How to Grow Raspberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries in Containers

Check out the Bushel and Berry collection here: I’m HUGE on berries at the Epic Homestead and plan to grow as

0

TIMELAPSE 5min. Metal House | Costs, Pros-Cons, The Container House Killer?

TIMELAPSE 5min. Metal House | Costs, Pros-Cons, The Container House Killer?

It has taken us 10 days to build the metal structure of our own Offgrid home. Without having any

0

Shipping Container House – 3 bedrooms – Two 40 ft.

Shipping Container House – 3 bedrooms – Two 40 ft Shipping Container This container project was

0

Artist builds his Savannah studio with shipping containers

Architect, artist, designer Julio Garcia had been designing plans for shipping container homes for a decade before

0

The Box Hop Airbnb Tour! | Shipping Container Home!

Shipping Container Home In this video I give you a

0

A Stunning Small Home Made From Hemp

Hemp is a building material like no other. It has incredible thermal properties, is environmentally

1

This $20,000,000 House Has The World’s Greatest View

HOUSE TOUR Today Josh Altman shows me through my dream home.

1

Family rescue bear found swimming with a plastic jar on its head

A family were fishing on a lake in Wisconsin when they spotted a bear with a plastic jar stuck on its

1

Vipp Shelter tiny prefab as precise industrial-era appliance

The Danish company VIPP (famous for its iconic 1939 wastebasket, now in the MOMA) has created a prefab tiny home

1

Why people are choosing to quit social media

Many people make an active choice not to be on social media. What motivates them to quit or detox from

1

Back Country House | Ltd Architectural Design Studio

Located on a secluded bush-clad site this house plays on the uniquely NZ typology of the backcountry

1

DRIVING the Future Mercedes with NO Steering Wheel!!

No Steering wheel?! Exclusive Access to Drive Mercedes Vision AVTR, really awesome content for you RBR

1

5 More Easy Healthy Breakfast Ideas | In Under 5 Minutes

Keeping breakfast easy is the key to sustaining healthy habits. Try one of these 5 easy healthy ideas to

1

The Mediterranean Diet Plan, Explained by Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray grew up eating and following the Mediterranean diet before it became a mainstream hit. Now,

1

Sterling K. Brown Explains His “No Gym” Workout

Sterling K. Brown Star of This Is Us and Waves,

1

Interview: Catatonic Schizophrenic

Catatonic Schizophrenic Shows a brief interview

1

Your Mind is an Excellent Servant, but a Terrible Master

David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and university professor in t

1

How To Remember Everything You Learn

Remember Everything How To Remember Everything You

1

Longest plank EVER – Guinness World Records

Most people have difficulty planking for just minutes at a time, but at the age of 62, George has shown that it’s p

1

6 month Insane Calisthenics Transformation

This is a 6 month Calisthenics body transformation video where he went from 114kg / 251lbs to roughly 95kg /

1

4 Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

If you looking for nice, easy and healthy recipe with oatmeal, this is the place for you. 4 healthy and

1

If You Struggle With Anxiety, This Mind Trick Will Change Your Life | Mel Robbins

Living with severe anxiety and panic for most of my life, I never imagined a day where I would wake up without

1

LIFE CHANGING Quotes From Epictetus

These quotes were performed by Chris Lines. If you connect to quotes such as: “Only the

1

Be Calm & Sleepy ???? ASMR for Anxiety

ASMR for Anxiety An ASMR session to come back to

1

Advanced Search Options
Video Search:
 

Powered by YouTube and Infosearched LLC

Infosearched | Lifestyle Research & Information
Logo