Sixty years before sustainability was a round-the-clock topic, solar pioneer Mike Reynolds was headed from architecture school in Ohio west to Taos, N.M., where he would start the “Earthship” movement — envisioning homes that could not only thrive off the power grid, but even absorb some of civilization’s vast tailings of trash and refuse.

Now a spectacular rendition of one of those is on the market on nearly seven acres in the Black Forest, northeast of Colorado Springs. eXp Realty Broker Jennifer Browne’s sellers were inspired by Reynolds’ “Biotecture” movement, then designed and built their own Earthship in 1997, doing 90% of the construction themselves.

11,000 aluminum cans

The Southwest-styled home is not only a good looker but performs great, according to Browne. It uses passive solar — heat from south-facing windows and skylights during winter — combined with “earth-sheltered” technology, with nonsolar parts of the home tucked into the earth to store heat and modify the temperature swings.

Walls and floors are a custom adobe blend designed as a heat sink, much of it filled into 1,500 old tires and 11,000 aluminum cans that add structural support. There are also PV panels that deliver up to 20 kilowatts of solar electricity, and there’s a whole-house backup generator if everything goes down.

That system, sellers say, keeps the home with 4,461 square feet of livable space at a core temperature of 65 degrees year-round, before they spend a paltry sum on backup heating and ventilation — $35 to $50 a month. Performance goes up with some system monitoring, they add, but electronically controlled vents and window shades take the heavy lifting out of that.

The couple had always intended this as their forever house and don’t want to leave it, Browne said. The price is $1.15 million for four bedrooms and three baths, in an interior that is visually spectacular aside from the energy functions. There’s a double-door entry opening onto a mosaic art piece, leading into lushly textured entertaining areas that show two kiva-styled fireplaces and a double kitchen, one kitchen a prep area open to the dining space.

The primary suite has a private entry to a courtyard and pergola, and a bath with a steam shower and a tub designed to sustain water temperature using exposed stone. There are artworks throughout, including 12 stained glass medallions representing months of the year, to welcome visitors regardless of when they were born. Also hidden away on the forested site: a two-car attached garage, a barn with three stalls, a tack shed and a shop. Browne will have the home open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 15 minutes east of I-25 at Interquest Parkway.

Biotecture movement

Meanwhile, the Earthship Biotecture movement is alive and well in Taos, with a campus and visitor center west of town on Highway 64 beyond the Rio Grande Gorge, offering a master’s program in conjunction with Western Colorado University in Gunnison, all on the web at earthship.com

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY AUG. 29

WHERE: 8020 Toltec Lane, Colorado Springs. From I-25 exit Interquest Parkway, head east 2 miles to Colorado Highway 83, north a mile to Shoup Road, turn east 2 miles to Milam Road, turn right (south) a mile to Burgess Road, then east 3 miles to Wakely Road, turn south to McFerran, then left and follow the signs

SIZE: 4 bed/3 bath, 4,461 square feet, 2-car garage, on 6.81 acres

PRICE: $1.15 million

WEB: ColoradoHomeFinder.net

OPEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

BROKER: Jennifer Browne, Fletcher Team at eXp Realty, 719-649-9661