19 Gorge View Rd Taos NM - $685,000 - 3 bed / 2 bath - 1.83 acres
This is one of the most beautiful Earthships ever built and is entirely off-the-grid, with passive solar heating, full roof water catchment system, newly purchased Lithium Ion batteries for storing solar power energy, and an operational gray water system. Enjoy comfortable temperatures year-round with no heating or cooling costs. With three bedrooms, two full baths, and a spacious open-concept kitchen and living room, there is plenty of room for guests and family members.
In addition to the tall customized front paneled glass windows that stretch across the expansive atrium garden area, there are also operable skylight windows and cooling tubes in each room which allow fresh air flow to the entire home, as needed. Abundant indoor plants noticeably raise the humidity and interior oxygen levels, making the environment much more comfortable than conventional homes. With custom handmade tiles in the bathroom, 25ft long oversized beautiful vigas in the main room which is illuminated with bottle work, and hand troweled earthen walls with sparkles of mica, this is surely a place you can comfortably feel at home.
Earthship have evolved over the past 40 years and this particular design represents the pinnacle in efficiency and comfort even decades later. The Euro, built entirely by licensed contractors, was used as the showcase model for the Global style Earthship as it was introduced in the Greater World Community. The 75 foot long greenhouse with inclined dual pane glass, and additional straight glass walls that separate the greenhouse from the true living area, keeps temperatures more easily regulated, somewhere between the high 60s and mid-70s. The exterior walls are two foot thick rammed earth tires, providing amazing insulation and soundproofing. The back of the house is earth-bermed.
Thick bottle walls let in colorful light across the entire living room and kitchen area, as well as white glass bottles, like beautiful floating luminous bubbles, adorn the primary suite and bathroom. Hand troweled natural adobe walls throughout and all painted surfaces are low VOC paint. Natural flagstone floors add beauty to the greenhouse, patios and bathrooms with hand-stained concrete slabs in each main room area providing massive solar gain. The dressing room in the primary area has two full closets and a wooden floor. Each bedroom has generous closet space with upgraded light fixtures throughout.
Open flowing atrium with mature garden runs the entire length of the home providing beautiful full window views and light for the self-watering garden. Tall angled windows not only provide full solar gain to flagstone walkways passively heating floors, but also provide the important factor of sun directly on your garden soil to insure great harvest capabilities. Lemon and fig trees, banana, blueberries, kitchen herbs, coffee, grapes, exotic flowers and vegetables can be and are grown any season in the indoor greenhouse.
Many bird species visit the yard, summer and winter, where water and seed has been provided. You're encouraged to do the same! There is even a huge covey of quail that come in each night at sunset. Sage and natural wildflowers abound and there are no better sun rise or sunsets on the planet. Within the fenced yard are two apple trees, nectarine and a peach tree as well as many ornamental shrubs, roses, and perennials. An arroyo runs behind the nearly two-acre property with miles of hiking trails nearby. The yard is enclosed with treated red ceder fencing and has a 16’ x 16’ raised deck to enjoy the mountain views nearby. There is driveway access to both the front and rear of the home with a gravel circular drive in the front and two parking spaces inside the fence line.
The roof is insulated with poly-ISO foam, providing an R-80. The metal roof provides potable catchment for the water supply which is stored in four cisterns holding 6800 gallons of water, buried in the back earthen berm which is then filtered inside. You can live comfortably on just the rainwater, which has been 6 to 10 inches annually for the past 3 years. One inch of rain on the expansive roof is over 3000 gallons of water. This water is filtered inside the house with additional filtration option for drinking water that flows through specific stems on each of the three sinks. Washer and dryer are included. There is a 500-gallon propane tank for the stove and on-demand hot water heater.
Yes, you can finance this home…and yes it can be insured! This home would also make an excellent Airbnb as travelers come to Taos 365 days per year, and many want to experience an Earthship for themselves. Located a few miles from the famous Rio Grande Gorge bridge, and a short drive away from the Black Rock hot springs. Taos Ski Valley, Red River slopes and Sipapu are within forty minutes away . This home is at the back of the Greater World Subdivision, in a very quiet location. There are 360-degree mountain views, and 360 acres of common land that will never be developed.
Earthships are designed to be the most efficient housing available anywhere. This home has zero backup heating, and has never had the need for additional heating. Earthships were the test site for an environmental research project which established Earthships temperature was remarkably consistent and comfortable. This is where Earthships truly shine.
If you have been searching for the perfect green home, this is it!
