Earth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30K
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- Опубліковано 17 кві 2016
- 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.
Steve Rees book: “Off Grid and Underground" www.amazon.com/Off-Grid-Underg...
Original story: faircompanies.com/videos/view/...
Steve has agreed to field questions at steve@calmingharp.com - Навчання та стиль
I highly recommend Steve Rees' book, "Off Grid and Underground: architecture for a simpler life," if you are thinking about doing anything close to his project. I think it is a great resource and will save me time, effort and a lot of money when I do my underground house. This video helps me better understand what is in the book,too. Thank you !!!
Hi, how can I buy his book ? Thanks :)
Got a link?
Hi Steve, I live in a cave in the South of Spain and last year I spent about 60 Euros on fuel for the wood-stove all year. Almost no fires and no air-conditioning. The walls are one-metre thick solid rock. The cave cost as much as a decent car. Property taxes are about 60 Euros a year, too. Fantastic - it's just so cheap. There are thousands of caves in the area I live in - I believe mine used to be used to keep donkeys in in the winter, but I now have all modern amenities including fibre-optic broadband!
I hope all is well with you and that you're still living the inexpensive life. God bless you and your family...
@@user-ye9nh2yr1r - Thank you and yes, I am. Hope you are, too.
To those of you who have questions for Steve, he has given me permission to give out his email address: steve@calmingharp.com
Drag racing 1958 Pontiac
nomadichronicle
That email address does not appear to be valid. Is there a way to get Steve's eBook in EPUB format? I'm not big on heavy, paper bound books.
Specifics only.
With water fall throughout seasons it is noted "Intermodal Freight
Containers" are not designed for pressure on ceiling, floor,
front-door-rear will cave-in. Did Steve have any bending metal from
weathered dirt pressure in top and lateral side of his "Intermodal
Freight Containers"...??? I am very excited with this video,
excellent! Love This Video....
I'm not sure I'm answering your question correctly but in the video he shows how they put a reinforced cement roof over the two containers, transferring the weight to the corners of the containers. That cement most likely would shed the water to the gravel sides and under for disbursement.
wow, you did that. thx for the additional 411 on an underground city in turkey. "just let the earth do the work" love that idea.
Truly inspiring. A tip: You can buy a a partial container that only consists of the bottom part. If you put that on top of your home container, then you don't need to create a slab that shifts the weight to the corner posts.
"You just let the Earth do the work." Yes! Permaculture for the win! Love this guy. Thanks, Kirsten.
he said that after or before pouring 2 tons of concrete?
So true. My cabin is underground. No ac needed.
YES, Kirsten shows INCREDIBLE sites! This is one of the best, eco living situations I've ever seen. 30K is my budget and I would love 2 live in a place like this. I have NEVER had my own home & at 61 yrs old, places like this give me a bit of hope. I search all types of sites and I don't know if I'll ever find my home... THANKS Ms. Kirsten
Very grounded design ( I couldn’t resist)! Using the earth to help control temps is a great idea , congrats 👍
I saw an article about something similar done with containers in the Netherlands. It's had an appeal to me ever since. I'm so jealous of that home. Great work.
There is something so satisfying about digging deep holes.
Scared of you. Lol
I can think of a few guy's who don't feel the same way as you...and you them!
That's what she said
I thought the cargo containers wouldn't hold up underground, I like how you solved the issues . The containers are cheap, but not made for the weight in the middle of the roof and sides, and being metal corrosion is an issue. The drainage, insulation, and the concrete slab over head to distribute the weight looks like it will work well...you did have a bulldozer on top !
I am addicted to your videos, each subject intrigues me. After watching each video I make up my mind, "I'm gonna do that!" Thank you for your pleasant interactions with your home owners. I hope you never run out of people and places!
Finally a underground decor home that makes sense.
+ME-Tube Your Space! have you seen earthships?
No. You can provide me the links of you like.
search earth ship in the search bar above in your you tube search or google, much faster than what I can reply to you
Kirsten great video. I really enjoy your documentaries. Thank you so much for taking the time and sharing. All the best
to you and the family. Cheers from Ontario Canada!!
I love this idea and Steve’s logic. Thank you for sharing what a neat couple!
That's really neat! I like the idea of the underground home and the natural heating and cooling benefits that come with it from Mother Earth.
Great info. I think I would start with a refridgerated container. They're already insulated.
+frogsoda Good idea but what is the wall thickness on them and how expensive are they?
AND WIRED!
@CryptoCrackerGood thing no one asked you.
I like his dog, it's a beauty. I don't know why more people don't live underground, it just makes sense! I'm heading out to the backyard now with my shovel. I will heed his advice and install 3 containers.
Success?
A friend of mine who is an HVAC guy is using geothermal in his home to heat and cool it. Although he is in a conventional home on his 10 acres he has a lot of flexibility to do some unconventional stuff.
This idea this man put into action is what my wife and I talk about if we lived in "tornado alley" out there in the mid-west. They're always rebuilding when that on devastator comes through. If people out there built like this there would be less damage. Just build your home underground with 6 or 12 containers. You might even find some intuitive ways to build barn housing/shelter for your livestock. Shucks, even food storage would be an idea too.
Would love to know more about it! Are you in CA?
Undre Drawn yhank u!!! I say the same thing. They should do this when tornadoes are prevelant. Less rebuilding
Even ur car can be underground. Perhaps they arent allowed to have whole homes tho. So happy to see someone else finally say it!
There's a lot of engineering that goes into making underground homes safe. Shipping containers have to be heavily reinforced, ventilation and water drainage systems have to be installed. The deeper you go the greater the engineering challenge becomes.
I LIKE the way you think! An underground barn... I'd LIVE in it! I just do dogs right now.... 😏
its probably more expensive or some crap even though it would never get destroyed.
I've been dreaming of doing this for ages. Great to see it in action.
I WANT THIS! :) Such a cool house, literally and figuratively. Surprised with all the excavation, cement, and two tall containers that it was so inexpensive.
+Chaz Evansdale I think it helped that the excavator gave him a bit of deal because he thought it was a cool project and wanted to see how it was done. It also kept costs down because he was able to do most of the other work himself (and with family/friends).
+Kirsten Dirksen Just love it. We have a container my folks bought 15 years ago, we are going to try this.
+hollyh1969 awesome.
+Paul Hendrix That's what I was going to say. With a "Fuckin" at the beginning
me 2
It would be interesting to add a 3rd, above ground container stacked on one of the below ground ones. With a spiral (or some form of) staircase for up/down access. It could be designed for improvised living space and have patio doors opening to a patio/garden area. The stacking would not present load issues and this above ground and open area would present myriad possibilities for optional, more "natural" living scenarios.
the1realanalogman -- Search on "shipping container houses" and you will be amazed at all the configs that have been designed.
If you orintated the upper container east to west...
To the south side of that container you could have a green house
Could really blow up your square footage
This is an awesome idea. I live in the hills so I can see something like this home on a piece of land around here. Thank you Kristen and thank you Steve for sharing a look into the building of your home.
I used to work in similar settings, where we grew medicinal mushrooms in burried container rooms 3×3 wide. They had a lot more dirt covering them and no walls between them, just posts. And I recon it works beautifully if moisture is controlled. The whole thing was lined a bit more outside and cement sprayed smooth inside. Didn't look like containers at all..
I've had the same idea for a house, except my plan would have a burried 15 000L water tank or sitting on it, accessible as a 2nd floor.
This is still the best channel on UA-cam
What I'm growing increasingly fond of, having never really seen it before, is the double camera action. Now there is a ticklish pleasure in moving from both types of cameras and seeing both perspectives within seconds. To know they are family partners makes it even nicer. It's signature for these guys and I'm liking it more and more. It makes me feel like this IS one of the best channels on UA-cam. I feel very "home" watching it and reading great community comments like the one above :).
To combat rust try cathodic protection. Its been used on the Alaska Pipeline for decades.
Can be done, cementing it in on all sides helps a lot, because when the concrete covers the steel it seals, there will be some inevitable light rust, but it stops when the air is consumed by the rusting process completely. Then cover it with earth. Also helps keep moisture from getting at the steel. Zinc anodes tapped into the steel can stop the rusting process, but they'd need to be accessible to change them.
Kirsten, your channel is very appreciated. Thank you. And all the best wishes for the new year.
I am consistently amazed at Man,s Ingenuity. I absolutely LOVE this Trend of small, cheap, and energy saving homes. I really enjoyed watching Thank you!!!
Give that man a prize!
I would've probably never thought of planing the 2x4s for the walls.
I would've been punching holes in the metal, So a Big Thank You for the video!
In Iraq we used shipping containers for just about everything. From workshops to bunk houses. We would cut 2X6 boards 1/8 or 1/4 of an inch larger than the vertical measurement of the container. Place them where we wanted like studs then beat them into place with a hammer. This created anchors for us to start building with wood. The steel is flexible enough to accommodate 1/8 to 1/4 inches without being damaged. They were immovably solid, to remove to the 2X6 anchors we had to cut them in half
I love this idea. I think I would have dug an escape tunnel. If someone blocked your front door your stuck
It's in there--just more valuable on the down-low. ;-)
Very good thinking.
A good rifle would unblock the front door quickly
@@danielldubord1814 I would never have thought to blast my way through a fallen tree. THANKS!
passive underground cooling tubes would provide active air changes.. see earth-ship designs
Best video I've ever seen for practical solutions with building a crate home underground. Will be buying his book, too.
OMG I love it all these idea's are making me want to build one.
Wow! This is really interesting stuff. Subbed right away. Off to see more of your stuff.
i'm not even subbed and i get recommended to this channel all the time lol.
but that's because i'm obsessed with the idea of earth covered homes as i love the savings on heating and cooling and electricity. it's just better this way like ppl who live in extreme temperature locations should really consider the benefits of such ideas as this.
an example is Arizona, they get extreme hot temps during most of the year long. but all of their homes are built for the use of central heating and cooling. but what happens when the power goes out for whatever reason? they are fucked. but with a house like this, they will be just fine and not to mention they will save all year long with their heating and cooling of their homes.
or you stupid shipping crates are over priced by 10 fold.
Steve, great job. Thx for taking time to show it off!
AWESOME home Brother Steve! I met you at Hannahs last week. I'm SO BLESSED by Calming Harp. Thank you. Yvette
Man that dude's house is just awesome!!!
All they need now is a giant garden and they will be set!
And a quest to retrieve s ring.
+CubeRepublic Ah the preciousssss!
***** :)
Jeb Gardener A sound garden.
Ahh quite the surprise 2 years later I’d be watching the same video you watched. Lol
Thanks for another great video. I really enjoyed it.
So many great design, engineering, ecology, and lifestyle ideas here.
Good Vibrations
Nice video, nice earth cooled shipping container CA homes. I love it. I enjoy watching.
'Really appreciate your sharing of information and experience Steve. Your home is so practical and aesthetically fits into the natural environment so much better than traditional houses. I hope California doesn't hassle you or those that will surely follow your lead.
i'm tolded i'm crazying wanting this simple effective home style set up, no one in my family or close daily life circles like this, but god knows I be gone and doing if I had bit more luck in my favor, this god my dream of dreams.
sorry some of us don't care for perfection till it matters, we prefer perfection in most important things. which this is not one of life and death, we all are different what we waste energy on being perfect. but we all must let each be separate person being same would be boring, also god bless and hope that doesn't offend too.
@@blizte3 I am experiencing the same exact thing with my friends and family. They think I'm crazy for wanting to build one if these!
This is a smart guy. Lots of detail kept simple. He should be a teacher. Thank you for the Inspiration Steve and Kirsten. Fantastic!
This is a great soundproof studio design. I would love to learn more about how you learned how to do this. Thanks for sharing!
Vault-Tec! Prepare for the future!
This is a great idea. Animals have survived under ground for thousands of years. Taking advantage of the earths natural insulation.
howz 🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬 about I put a you 6 ft under🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬🔬
Anynameiwant Last
Haha!
+nicholai40 Animals have fur, just sayin'.
ffjsb
The temperature below ground is fairly constant around the world, and throughout the seasons
+nicholai40 Duh. And humans still would be cold living underground with no heat source. The underground temperature averages in the lower 50's...
that’s really nice and comfortable looking. i love the ceiling (box) fan!
Lady you have AN, “ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING” Channel!! We looked it over, Looked over several other videos that we are definitely gonna watch!!! Bravo! 👏 Bravo!!👏 Bravo!!! 👏
Maaannn.i have being thinking of the same.....5 yrs ago.even better in state of texas...heat/tornado place.....
Good for you made it happened
this is why the Hobbits build their homes the way they do :-)
it's very wise.
@@actontreadway1168 Hobbits aren't even real.
The get dwarves to help with the metal containers.
KingTesticus
That name tho
Great interview and very helpful video. Thanks for sharing
I love this house! I dont know why these aren't really a thing. The amount of energy they save is incredible.
I always thought this would make so much sense in areas that get frequent and damaging tornadoes too...why would you build a conventional house that can be so easily destroyed by a hurricane or tornado when you could use the earth to protect you?!
+Neb Omashin My dad buried a train car in Oklahoma as a cellar. Definitely experienced close calls while we had it...... I have great memories sitting on top of it watching tornadoes drop down in the distance, waiting for when it was time to go in the train car. It's crazy these days...... I talked to my cousin in Texas and she said people don't even have cellars to speak of anymore!??
+Neb Omashin / Check out Monolithic Dome homes and cement-rebar homes with an insulating foam layer. Dome homes can resist tornadoes since the shape doesn't allow for surfaces that can be pulled by the wind. Cement domes resist grass fires and other fires. Some people do most of the labor themselves.
+PleaseCiteYourSources Thanks You thinkin' of the "bubble houses" of Wallace Neff?
Neb Omashin I think it is bc most people like windows.
The only thing is the water damage in both hurricanes Harvey and Irma. A lot of houses were destroyed by the flood ! Watch out for that before building. George Wu, AIA, ARCHITECT, NCARB 2017-9-14
add a 3rd one in the back,place it like a "t",set it cover it and expansion!
This Is Awesome... Thanks for sharing... I am going to build an Earthship Container, starting in Taos, NM and want to study what you have learned, so I will buy your book. Thanks again! ☺
Great work Steve. Thank you for sharing.
way cool---have a relative with an underground house, but built the regular way, really love the containers. I want it. I would make a vegetable garden on top of the house!
+Mary West soon I will be building one as well, but I'm torn between a 2 container home similar to his, or a 1 container for bed & bath and a 30' diameter cordwood living & kitchen. I've got a plan drawn up for both.... either way I go, the roof could be garden use.
It's also possible to store and retrieve thermal energy in the ground under a regular building by pumping fluid through buried tubes
MonkeyKong
Heat pump without refrigeration
Yes. I have seen a "crazy" man cool his house with underground tanks. He wouldnt say what was in the tubes ( word was it was some supersalty water) fan + pump thats it no condenser , lo side , hi side. No issues with freon. Wish i knew more but it kept his house cool
Oh wow that's so cool can you tell me how ?
Great to watch. I will buy the book. Very inspiring. He is right about lots of people living underground in some cities if Turkey.
I LIVE RIGHT BY THIS DUDE!! HOW AWESOME!
How do they hold up with earthquakes? I wonder what factors would play out? Great home 👍🏽
WOW Very nice.. looks great and thank you for the great and very informative narrative, All my questions where answered .. I use to be a marine Surveyor I have Inspected thousands of containers, I have thought about this, and you answered and showed me it can be done.. ENJOY your new home ......
I was kinda worried at first because the build didn't show any concrete being used and then he mentioned having to use a masonry bit to get through the walls for running services into the structure. You DO NOT want to bury shipping containers without any concrete and rebar. Shipping containers really only have support strength on the corners where they come into contact with other shipping containers for stacking. The sides and ceilings will give way to the weight of the dirt if no structural concrete and rebar is used to encase the structure.
Great job Steve. Interesting video and I will be purchasing your book.
Underground homes should be mandatory in tornado alley.
Have A Nice Day no, if you want to build a house that gets wrecked every year that’s your choice. The smart thing to do would be this.
Have A Nice Day Brilliant! Wow, you really could live in Kansas and Oklahoma and keep a home in tact. Brilliant!
Except for the flat land and flash flooding.
Southern Fun yeah but those clowns get federal funding when disaster strikes.
Y’all are morons who have no grasp on the reality of what you’re discussing 👌
I like your set up, something similar to what I plan to do.
They live like a Hobbit
Great idea folk's!! 😱 😊 love the video ! Nice to see people with a great way to live !! ALL the best from Tasmania Australia !! 😊 🍺🍺
Nice work, thanks for the video. I found it especially interesting. I want to build this
I wish this was allowed everywhere in the land of the free 😖
Reign of Tapp if you can’t find a way make a way
@imdahG I was living in a tiny home back in 2013... My outlook on housing law been changed
A lot of homeless people in the US, lost their properties due to the recession, this could be the way forward instead of living in camper vans in carparks
What recession??
@@dsonyay ummm....wow....okay. you should make friends with google. it'll tell you all about it.
the only problem with that is that it is very costly to turn shipping containers into homes, ontop of that it can't be standardized, and then you add the extra costs for putting it underground and it is just too much money for the government to even try doing. then the land needed is even more of a problem. your not going to find a whole lot of people willing to give up their land for such things. a more practical approach would be to build bedrooms, like an apartment or hotel, and then put an amenities building for everyone to use the bathroom, shower, cook etc. then they could stay close to the city where the jobs are too.
unfortunately no one is really willing to do anything for the homeless due to the costs. if they got a camper van already theyre doing way better than most homeless.
i know i will be choosing to live in a van over an apartment because to rent an apartment is three quarters of my paycheck.
TheGodParticle
Who is going to purchase the land and containers.
9/11 happened, the 2008 are two recessions, now the pandemic in 2020. Self reliance is something we are need to get used to . Learning to build your own shelter is a good idea really. Some very creative people out here. But with some limitations.
That’s so cool guys thanks for the video it’s very good information 😀👍
How cool! I like the idea. My dad lived in Springfield, Mo and told me stories about "caving as a @10 to 14 years old.
These are the type of houses they need where they get cyclones
i think thats the way to go, underground. just imagine a lovely garden and greens surround this home. just need a better design for its entrance, a hobbit door mabbe.
Spaide man I want to do this so bad! I got the dirt to put them in. Now I just need the containers. And start digging!!!
this was a great video. didn't think about containers. was going to use the balloon and rebar and concrete techniques.
Brilliant - congratulations, job well done...! Amazing video! I love it!
Extremely cool and affordable!
Don't forget- If you do this... you should probably consider a means of egress at the other end of the container. If there is a fire at the front... you don't want to be stuck inside with no ability to get out.
Or a simple fire extinguisher ....
Dr. Richard R. Ape wrong thinking
Amazing home. Thanks for sharing this.
i like that they worked with city hall to get permits etc. it shows both sides are interested in getting along with each other.
With a third container they could build a grow room and never have to worry about money hehe ;)
Never leave home again.... Lol!
Outdoor growing is far more practical but I smell what you're stepping in.
Turns out there is another sub level container below hehe
That is laughably not true. Money is always going to be needed when you are using modern electronics. That solar system is going to cost money at some point, plus maintenance in general.
@Moonrock High yea growing weed is fucking great when it's legal 🙄
They could easily build out from the front and convert it into an earthship home.
Cool,good deal. Great simple plan, temperature stability. I researched enough from a while back.🧐😎☺️💞✨
Hello, We are based in the UK, I have been looking building a container home for some years. I like this idea. It looks very good.
amazing concept to keep it cool..! do you take private jobs..? I'd love a home like this and off the grid :)
If you can get anything for 30,000 in California you better buy..
Excellent idea. Thank you for the video.
I've wanted to do this for so long and never have, this video was a lot of fun to see.
Excellent! :)
Appears to be tornado and forest fire resistant.
It would also discourage thieves. In order to rob a place, it is necessary to know a place is there. Then there is the problem of gaining entry, if robbers did locate the place.
Especially if you close the doors and lock them if you travel!
@@reeblesnarfle5443 If they are buried you can't travel with them, and unburied they are not fire and tornado resistant.
If there's a will, there's a way
I luv that the dog was watching, like he's making sure they get it rt. Lol
thank you sir for this video you give me and my family one hell of an inspiration God bless you sir
Ideal homescape in this age of virus pandemic! Imma build my own once corona epidemic is finished!
One of my Dream is to build one like this in N.Houston Area under 30K.
How is the dream coming?
I love these and this was the best one i've seen yet. He said 30k too; I watched another one that was smaller and they said 70k.
Another great show & tell video.
Thanks.
Brilliant!
These are great!
Much safer,....protected,...... energy wise,.......more beautiful to the earth.
I would want mine 3,500 square feet. (Lots of shoes.)
That's 11 containers.
+rainbo5250 How big are your feet?
Giggle! ;)
Phill Huddleston
Love the idea, but I'm not sure I could live with the darkness. I think I would turn the containers sideways so there were more windows to the outside (of course that would sacrifice some of the cooling properties).
Why not dig shafts that were the width of triple/quad glazed windows toward the top of the walls. A lattice at the ground level could reduce sun rays thus reducing heat.
Exactly my thoughts... too dark and claustrophobic. I love this concept but not the design/layout on this one.
Ms. Dirksen....LOVE your channel and finds!
Lucky man ,I live in the Mohave desert , have really wanted a place much like it for years .love the light tubes .