'Recycled' Solar Homes

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Mike's solution to the problem appears in the form of a huge, flat tank that covers the bottom one-third of the studio's south wall. When sunlight heats the water in the enclosure, the liquid expands to flow into the north wall ... with the sun doing the work of pumps.

A major advantage of can construction is that—whereas rubber tires do provide solidity—the lightweight containers lend themselves to easy working. "They're the most flexible building material possible," says one of Mike's crew. And Mike adds: "Cans are not only as fluid as adobe, but they make a lighter wall that's more durable and less likely to settle." The ease with which even a child can build with aluminum containers prompted the Gobels to construct some of their new home's walls themselves.

THE FUTURE

Both can and tire houses fit Reynolds' philosophy of freeing the owner from the energy/housing/money mess. "If we build homes that can take care of their owners—and of themselves as well—then we'll need less income," he comments. "And when we no longer have to chase the survival dollar, we're free to put both our time and our own energies to more creative purposes."

Mike foresees a future where the scarcity of cheap energy and building materials will drastically lower our living standards ... unless we can adapt to the new conditions. He's grateful that the New Mexico authorities haven't interfered with his efforts to prepare for that future. "This state has been amazingly cooperative," the builder says. "They allow me to learn what I need to know for the future. It seems that if I keep them aware of what I'm doing, they'll go along."

The FHA, too, has asked Reynolds to submit some of his designs for their approval, but, so far, the architect hasn't gotten around to it.

Reynolds' next project is a communal development of trash houses ... which will be built on inexpensive land beyond Taos' $10,000-a-lot zone. The community's eventual occupants will use a bicycle to pump water from a shared well to holding tanks near their homes.

Mike is also experimenting with both a flywheel generator and a wind charger, in order to determine which is the more efficient source of electricity for his community. Either way, he won't hook up to the local power grid.

Here's how Mike sums up his motives: "Call it a quiet rebellion. We're working to get out of the mess. We're reusing materials that are difficult to dispose of. We're heating with the sun. And all because we just can't go on the way we are now ... destroying the earth."

If more folks would take the time to listen to Mike's ideas, we just might get our great Mother cleaned up and back to normal again.

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