Editing Autonomous building (section)

===1990s===
The 1990s saw the development of [[Earthship]]s, similar in intent to the Ark project, but organised as a for-profit venture, with construction details published in a series of three books by American architect [[Mike Reynolds (architect)|Mike Reynolds]]. The building material is [[tire]]s filled with [[soil|earth]]. This makes a wall that has large amounts of [[thermal mass]] (see [[earth sheltering]]). [[Berm]]s are placed on exposed surfaces to further increase the house's temperature stability. The water system starts with rain water, processed for drinking, then washing, then plant watering, then toilet flushing, and finally [[blackwater (waste)|black water]] is recycled again for more plant watering. The [[cistern]]s are placed and used as thermal masses. Power, including electricity, heat and water heating, is from [[solar energy|solar power]].

Some 1990s architects such as [[William McDonough]] and [[Ken Yeang]] applied environmentally responsible building design to large commercial buildings, such as office buildings, making them largely self-sufficient in energy production. One major bank building ([[ING Group]]'s [[Amsterdam]] headquarters) in the Netherlands was constructed to be autonomous and artistic as well.