MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A Tampa family is building a very unusual new home. Instead of using blocks of concrete the Pfalzers are using dirt, old tires and recycled glass. It's called an Earthship and it's a first in Florida.
Here they are — Creative Loafing’s choices for the 100 people, places and businesses leading the way toward a greener Tampa Bay. Some of the 100 are individuals, some are teams, some are whole organizations — but each is demonstrating leadership in moving our region toward a more sustainable way of life.
MYAKKA CITY - Surrounded by commercial farms on Highway 64 and wetlands, a new home emerges, one that is sustainable and affordable -- built out of garbage. Many builders and environmentalists say trash may be the new brick because it reduces landfills and it is affordable.
Bryan Roberts, founder of Eco-Tech Construction, is behind Florida’s debut Earthship, a type of self-sustainable residential structure constructed from natural materials and trash. Although they have their roots in the Southwest, Earthships have been built in many other states and around, not surprisingly, Europe. Florida's first is being built in Manatee County.
MYAKKA CITY -- - Few Floridians have heard of, much less seen, an “earthship” home that is virtually self-sustaining and built almost entirely from recycled materials. Yet with electricity rates climbing and the need to conserve fuel and water becoming more pressing, a prototype under construction in East Manatee County is attracting attention.
