Global Model

The Global model is the flagship, standardized house designed by Earthship Biotechture. It is called the "global" model as it functions in a variety of climates while meeting many building codes around the world.

Design
The main features of the Global model are a sloped glasshouse (the front of the house) facing the equator adjoining a series of rectangular living spaces, with a planar roof sloping towards the back of the house. The exterior walls and the walls between the living spaces are packed with material with a high thermal mass, and the exterior surrounded by insulation. Planter cells are placed in both the glasshouse and outside the earthship, which process the grey and black water. Solar panels and solar water heating are afixed to the top of glasshouse, above the glass, and angled at the median angle of the summer and winter sun. Mains gas can be included to ensure on-demand hot water and to supply gas stoves.

Tuning for different climates
Depth and breadth of living space rooms For colder climates, the living spaces can me made wider and the back wall "shallower" to let more of the incoming winter light hit more of the thermal mass directly. Conversely, in hotter climates the living spaces can be made more narrow and the back wall placed deeper to prevent more of the thermal mass from being heated directly by incoming sunlight.

Insulated floors
In very cold climates, insulating the floor can be useful if there is a concern the frost-layer may penetrate cold under the insulated walls and into the floor of the earthship.

2nd glasshouse
In very cold climates, a 2nd glasshouse can be built around the standard glasshouse, completely surrounding it on the equator side. This adds an additional insulating zone between the living spaces and the outside.

Modifiability
The number of living spaces is flexible. If more rooms are wanted, they are added to the sides of the structure and the glasshouse/roof/outer wall extended. Likewise the number of solar panels, batteries, cisterns and planter cells can be increased to accommodate more inhabitants.