Michael Reynolds, along with the young couple of artists Elena Roger and Mariano Torre, arrived to promote the 100% self-sustaining homes.
The mayor of General Alvear, Juan Carlos De Paolo , received Michael Reynolds, a leader in the construction of self-sustaining homes, who is analyzing the possibility of building an eco-village in the department.
Michael Reynolds travels the world, winning hearts and minds, to help solve the waste problem and generate alternative energies for sustainability.
Thus, in Argentina, the first experience was developed in Ushuaia, where the first self-sustaining house was built, using renewable and recycled materials.
A project that was completed thanks to the work of Mariano Torre and Elena Roger and the local municipality.
The artists said the construction has motivated others to become more familiar with the idea and explore the possibility of creating these spaces in other parts of the country.
This is the case of Esteban Servat , who, motivated by environmental protection, has decided to carry out a project similar to those that Reynolds carried out in New Mexico, United States, and now they plan to do it in the area of Colonia Rusa in the district of San Pedro del Atuel, located about 30 kilometers south of the city.
As a result of this idea, Michael Reynolds was summoned to General Alvear. He is currently working on a sustainable project in El Bolsón, and on Tuesday morning he arrived in the department to tour the property that Esteban Servat has available to launch "Evita" the eco-village.
Mayor De Paolo received Reynolds in the mayor's office where a meeting was held in which interest was expressed in supporting the project from the Departmental Executive.
" I have spent four decades developing this way of helping people and the planet," Michael Reynolds said upon his arrival.
His idea is based on six pillars.
A home - Having electricity - Water - Wastewater treatment - Food production - Waste reuse.
When asked about his visit, he said, " It's good that there's interest in this place; it seems there are opportunities, much more easily than in the United States."
As for the permits, they are not difficult; we would have to analyze the financing, which is not unattainable, because it is something that finances itself.
Once it starts, it develops on its own.
"And the municipality doesn't have to take care of the services, because each of the homes generates them," he explained.
Finally, he added, " These buildings make life easier for the people who live in them, and they address the garbage problem." Elena Roger and Mariano Torre promoted "Earthship." The nationally and internationally recognized artist couple Elena Roger and Mariano Torre shared the first Earthship experience in Argentina, together with Reynolds.
They decided to join the visit of the person who leads the project worldwide, to share their testimony with all the neighbors and thus spread the spirit of good practices and awareness.
" We are happy to meet people who care about what kind of planet we are going to leave to our children, and who are open to new technologies related to self-sustaining homes."
"We think it's a good setup," said Elena Roger.
For his part, Mariano Torre pointed out the characteristics of the houses . The house uses natural and recycled materials.
Soil and clay, as well as cans, glass and plastic bottles, washing machine casings and refrigerators.
It is our responsibility to continue expanding the use of other materials.
We set the limits ourselves.
The trash we throw away can become raw material for a new venture, for development.
It is worth noting that both were part of the experience carried out in Ushuaia, Mariano's place of origin, where the first "Earthship" of Argentina was made and is a model for the whole world.
When asked why he came up with the idea of joining the project, Torre simply summarized, "I always think: what kind of children am I going to leave to the world, and what kind of world am I going to leave to my children? " Who is Michael Reynolds? Michael Reynolds, also known as Mike Reynolds, is an American architect based in New Mexico known for designing and building Earthships.
He is considered an advocate of " radically sustainable living ".
He has been a critic of the architecture profession for its failure to deal with the amount of waste generated by building design.
He is also the head of design, both for structure and systems.
It is capable of adapting Earthship designs and construction techniques to any climate in the world.
He is the founder of three Earthship communities around the world, author of seven books and the main protagonist of the documentary "Garbage Warrior".
Now, Reynolds and his team, along with a contingent of 70 volunteers from around the world, are in El Bolsón building the region's second Earthship.
Reynolds has a project he's dreamed of for decades: creating an entire city of these homes to show the world that it's possible to build differently and live in harmony with the environment.
With the aim of making that project a reality in the General Alvear area, he visited the department, where he received an honorable mention from the municipality.
It has the potential to transform the local and regional economy with significant ecological and self-sustaining development, pioneering for Argentina and the world. An Earthship (an English word meaning earthship, and in Spanish as NaveTierra, NavesTierra in plural) is a type of passive house made of natural or recycled materials.
These homes are primarily designed to operate autonomously and are generally constructed from tires filled with earth, using thermal mass to naturally regulate the interior temperature.
Earthships are generally self-sufficient homes that minimize energy and fossil fuel use.
These buildings are constructed to utilize available local resources, especially the sun.
For example, sun-facing windows in walls admit light and heat, and buildings are often horseshoe-shaped to maximize natural light and to gain more sun during the winter months.
The dense interior walls provide thermal mass that regulates and insulates the interior temperature from hot or cold exterior temperatures.
Interior walls that are not load-bearing are usually made of recycled can panel structures.
They are usually joined with stucco.