Sunday, November 27, 2016

Homestead Green Building: Houseboats



Wait a second.  Houseboats?  Green?  Homestead?  Actually, yes!  Ok, so maybe not in the strictest sense.  But absolutely, yes, houseboats can be green, and yes, they can be used as a homestead.  If you want to be on your own and off the grid, this absolutely is an option.  If you have a piece of property that has a lake, river, or shoreline, or even if you don't truly want to be tied down to one place, a houseboat can be your answer.  I'm actually a little excited about this option.  I've been looking forward to this particular post for quite some time now.  The options are so much more varied than you might think at first.  Let me show you.



So when you hear the word "houseboat", your mind may automatically go to a movie such as the classic "Houseboat" with Sophia Loren and Cary Grant, or even "Sleepless in Seattle".  And the truth is that both are very real and true forms that a houseboat can take.  It can be something as simple as an actual boat that you live on, to something more like a traditional house that floats, and so many other styles in between.  Now, obviously, it must be built to float and/or move on water, and the living quarters must be built in such a way that constant moisture is not a problem.  For that reason, a material such as cob or adobe might not be at the top of your list.  If you're not out on the open ocean, it may still be an option, but it will almost certainly require a bit more upkeep.  But it can be built from sustainable timber or bamboo.  Now, of course, the interior can be whatever you want.  The upside is that for your power, that can most certainly be a green.  The obvious here would be hydro power.  But just about any of the options out there (except for maybe geothermal) would be easy to integrate into a houseboat.



Now, you can buy a houseboat, either brand spanking new or as a fixer-upper.  You can buy a boat and retrofit it into a houseboat.  Or you can build completely from scratch.  Now, there are laws and codes that you must learn.  Depending on the size and structure of your houseboat, there may be different laws that affect you.  They can also vary greatly from state to state, and region to region.  Everything from how long you can stay docked at a specific location, to whether your houseboat is considered a boat or a residence (which is very important in regards to maritime laws, and search and seizure possibilities), and many places have very specific laws when it comes to environmental impact.  That last one shouldn't be of too much concern for you if you are going green.  The engine can be green if you utilize an alternative fuel.  Even waste can be dealt with in a green manner- composting toilets, incinerating toilets, or a really good filtration system is absolutely a must.  Just an aside here, an incinerating toilet is not something that I think I would consider.  Think about it for a minute: literally burning your waste..... the smell!  Not to mention the clean-up.  Of course, I have no direct experience here, but if anyone has any info they'd like to offer on these things, I'd be more than happy to hear about it.



Although it might seem an odd thought at first, a houseboat can even be ideal for growing your own food.  You can do this by having a green roof, a green deck, hydroponics, or an aquaponic set-up.  Any of these ideas would make gardening on your houseboat a relatively simple task.  And with all the ideas and possibilities that have been written about concerning gardening for small spaces, it just makes it all the better.



In short, a houseboat can be an amazing option for going off grid.  As with any of the other options we've already looked at, you can get as creative as you like, make it as large or as small as you'd like, and let your creativity run wild.  While the actual building or purchase of a houseboat may cost a bit more than some of the other options we've looked at, without the additional purchase of land, the overall cost could even out, or even be a bit less expensive in the long run.  It all depends on you- what you put into it.  I've included a list of reference sites for purchasing a houseboat, finding design ideas and blueprints, and even some sources for laws and codes.  I hope you find them informative.  I know that I've not gone into great detail here, but the main reason behind that is that there are just too many options to consider to get it all condensed into one simple blog post.  Happy researching!



Pre-made green houseboats:

http://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/jet-capsule-unidentified-floating-object-concept-home-2016-04

http://firmtec.com/eng/projects

http://www.insidehook.com/nation/big-beautiful-solar-houseboats-waterlovt

http://dornob.com/self-sufficient-houseboat-lets-you-leave-civilization-behind/

http://www.greenecoservices.com/nine-eco-friendly-houseboats/

http://weburbanist.com/2008/02/20/17-extreme-houseboats-and-houseboat-designs-luxury-marine-habitats-to-humble-floating-homes/

Plans, blueprints, and ideas:

http://www.diy-wood-boat.com/40-foot-shantyboat-houseboat.html

http://tinyhousetalk.com/micro-houseboat-you-can-build/

http://www.all-about-houseboats.com/house-boat-plans.html

http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/extreme-houseboats/video/how-to-build-a-houseboat

http://buildahouseboat.com/building-a-houseboat/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3035438/Family-lives-AMAZING-artistically-vibrant-self-sufficient-floating-home-coast-Canada-miles-civilization.html

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/self-sufficient-solar-powered-barge-and-houseboat.html

http://www.all-about-houseboats.com/cheap-green-solar-houseboat-plans-part-1.html

http://www.all-about-houseboats.com/solar-powered-houseboats.html

http://www.treehugger.com/tiny-houses/geodesic-houseboat-michael-weekes.html

http://inhabitat.com/the-tiny-sweet-pea-is-the-first-houseboat-to-be-certified-by-build-green/

http://inhabitat.com/these-floating-jellyfish-gardens-purify-polluted-water-and-air-while-growing-food/

http://www.all-about-houseboats.com/homebuilt-houseboat.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kevin-mccloud-sails-fully-sea-faring-cardboard-houseboat-down-thames-a7008471.html

http://tinyhousetalk.com/rosebud-tiny-house-boat/

http://www.naazkashmir.com/blog/tag/deluxe-houseboat-in-kashmir/

http://weburbanist.com/2008/08/11/15-more-extreme-houseboats-and-houseboat-designs/

http://crazyfreelancer.com/10-unreal-houseboats-will-set-imagination-adrift/9/

Codes and Laws:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-to-houseboat-scofflaws-Follow-rules-or-4119600.php

http://www.houseboatmagazine.com/2010/11/the-laws-of-living-aboard

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169452244/supreme-court-rules-that-houseboats-are-houses-not-boats

http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/legal-live-houseboat-river-9793.html

https://www.nps.gov/commercialservices/docs/concessioner%20tools/USCG_Vessel_Checklist_Houseboat.pdf

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-to-houseboat-scofflaws-Follow-rules-or-4119600.php

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