Video Story
Watch VideoHouse made up of rubber tires
Story By: Jamie Smith
Source: Grand County, Colorado
Published Mon Sep 29, 2008, 06:42 AM MDT
Updated Mon Sep 29, 2008, 07:36 AM MDT
This time of year many drivers might be thinking it's time to get new tires for the coming winter, but one Colorado home owner is using them for a different use.
In rural Grand County, Jon Hager is finishing the final touches of his 2,000 square foot dream home. Two years ago he started building this unique house using rubber tires.
Today, it looks like any other on the outside, but on the inside, it's unlike most homes being built. Jon Hagar says "we will be the first here in five to six weeks to get a certificate of occupancy."
Jon says "the house is built out of 17,000 tires, 170 bails."
All the tires were headed for the dump, but now act as super insulation that should save Jon some money this winter. Jon says "our neighbors around here spend $400, $500 dollars a month on heating bills were hoping to be 50 to 100 dollars a month."
The house built entirely of rubber tires mixed with a front wall of passive solar windows stays around 70 degrees. Jon says "the big question everyone asks is that who will wash all the windows."
Jon knows when energy prices climb, his tire house will be rolling toward savings.
This winter, students from the School of Mines will be doing research on the house to test its energy efficiency in the cold.
