11-12-2013, 06:13 AM
I have thought about this alot and I keep coming back to simply using the cement as economically as possible. Basically build a ferro-cement house. Other variations on the same theme would be ICFs and cast in place concrete. The concrete mix would be carefully designed as commercial concrete is these days. Cinders for filler would not be included. For living structures stone would not be included. For walls that people don't spend a significant amount of time standing under or within reach of, un-reinforced stone would be acceptable since if it falls down no one gets killed and you can re-build at your leisure. Commercially prepared blocks and cement board products would be desirable because of the high quality control compared to DIY efforts. That brings us right back to how things are usually done today. In other words there ain't no free lunch out there waiting to be taken advantage of but strangely not discovered yet.
CMU block walls full of re-bar and concrete, then back-filled on the outside with cinders, gravel, or whatever gave the best bang for the buck, would in my opinion get you the same results as an earth-ship but without the uphill battle to get it permitted and without the backbreaking labor.
CMU block walls full of re-bar and concrete, then back-filled on the outside with cinders, gravel, or whatever gave the best bang for the buck, would in my opinion get you the same results as an earth-ship but without the uphill battle to get it permitted and without the backbreaking labor.