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One problem about cities and solar is the amount of shading from other buildings. There is a section at the earthship site on retrofitting buildings, but you need more room to do it. Basically adding thermal mass, insulation, and tilted glass walls to heat a greenhouse area.
In colder climates, rolling insulated shutters help with night heat loss.
Higher latitude or altitude earthships need to have more solar thermal gain glass per square foot, more of the thermal mass "finger walls"(interior sun line colored free standing tire walls) and insulation between the underground and the tire walls.
Waste straw in well made non-round bales is a great eco-insulator, but needs protection from moisture rot.
Another problem with cities is roof area per person---it isn't enough for catchment with tall buildings. Also not enough area to grow food. The unfortunate reality is that cities themselves are unsustainable.
Design Principles
1) Thermal/Solar Heating & Cooling(or geothermal, all with thermal mass)
2) Solar & Wind Electricity(or other non-emissions power)
3) Contained Sewage Treatment(septic system or community septic, both with composting)
4) Building with Natural &
Recycled Materials (along with super insulation)
5) Water Harvesting (rainwater and recycling systems)
6) Food Production (inside and outside gardens, aquaculture, and small animal husbandry)
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"With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life.
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle
“Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein
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