In the 1990s, Jay Warmke and his wife Annie of Philo, Ohio, started building a house made from tires.
It’s a so-called “earthship,” a type of home designed to have minimal environmental impact.
Its walls are made of old tires filled with compacted earth, stacked like bricks.
The north side of the house is buried in the earth.
Warmke: “You get that cave effect, where in the summertime it’s cooler, in the wintertime it’s warmer.”
And the exposed south side is mostly windows, drawing in the warmth of the sun, so the home requires little energy for heating.
During construction, people were curious about the project, so the Warmkes had an open house.
Warmke: “And about 600 people showed up to look at this house in the middle of the hills of Appalachia.”
That inspired them to continue giving tours and turn their property into an education center where others can find their path toward sustainability.
Over the years, the center has offered workshops in straw-bale and rammed-earth construction, solar energy, and more.
And it’s inspired people to see the benefits of living more intentionally.
Warmke: “Being aware of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it – to me, you know, is a life worth living.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
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