Top 10 Off-Grid Sustainable Homes from Around the World | Off-Grid Living

We take a look at the top ten sustainable, off-grid homes from around the world, assessing the design and build of each structure, and learning how we can all be more resourceful, and reduce our impact on the planet.
Although living off-grid can be challenging and requires an environmental learning curve, it can have numerous positive benefits like conserving energy, reducing living costs, and helping people feel more connected to nature.
Which is your favourite off-grid home?

REFERENCES:

Ruin Studio - Scotland

Using the foundations and ruined stonework of an old farmhouse, the house builds upon the architecture already in place with a pitched black rubber roof. Relying on solar power and with the water coming through pipework from a local farm, the building was built to neat passivhaus standards.

Bruny Island Cabin - Tasmania

Off the Southeastern coast of Tasmania, the architects designed the building as if it were a “piece of furniture”, blending minimalist design with the wooden furniture of the building.

Floating Home - Canada

Situated on a lake, and built as a studio for an artist. The home has been continually extended and improved, using nearly all second hand materials, except for ceiling joists. The home uses solar energy to power two 6v batteries, as well using propane for the stove, and filtering its own rain water supply.

Summit Prairie - Oregon, USA

Built in 2009 and designed to look like an observation tower from the US Forest Service. Has 360 degree views of the surrounding Umpqua national forest, the building also features an outdoor shower and wood-fired spring fed hot tub.

Dusky Parakeet Houseboat - London

Built as a fully movable houseboat, the boat is fully off-grid, with a 500 litre water tank, solar panels and a gas-incinerating toilet. The doors and work surfaces of the boat are made from recycled yoghurt pots, yet resemble marble worktops. With hidden storage around the boat it benefits from living and kitchen space, as well as the bedroom and shower room.

The Stamp House - Australia

Located in North Queensland, the architecture of the building is designed to be able to withstand a category 5 hurricane, so the building doubles as a home and hurricane shelter. Drawing power from both a rooftop solar array as well as a backup solar generator, the building also hosts a water harvesting system that can draw up to 250,000 litres of water for home use or for irrigation.

Mountain Home - California

Built by a professional snowboarder in the mountains near Truckee, California. The home is built to the golden ratio and is pentagonal shaped, made from local rock and wood. The running water comes from a nearby creek that runs through the property, and the home is heated by a wood-burning stove.

House of the Big Arch - South Africa

Built within a nature reserve in the Waterberg mountains, the home is designed to blend in with the natural landscape, and was 3D planned to make sure that it could fit between the trees that already sat on the location, so as not to harm them.

Woodman’s Cabin - Scotland

Located in the Cairngorms National Park this wooden cabin is made from 260 year-old Scots Pine, recycled from the location they fell. Featuring rain water collecting barrels, as well as a bush shower, the only modern features the cabin has are solar panels powering two electric lights. With a composting toilet as well as gas powered stove, there is no fridge, only a cooler box located in a nearby stream.

Earthship Ironbank - Australia

This unique building sits about 40 minutes from Adelaide, Australia, and is an ongoing project in sustainability, studying the efficiency of energy and water, and how they work within our climate.

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[valeriebest]

My personal opinion (not subject to anyone's comments) is this: Going "off-grid" doesn't mean relinquishing oneself to medieval times of the past. Rather it is finding a balance -- reduce carbon footprint by using natural energy sources (i.e., solar panels, hydropanels, or even water-recycle systems for plants) and other sustainable resources in the home/building structure (smaller in overall size) to power a modern life. Quite a few of these are way too far "off-grid" (wood stoves reduce forest). My model is a more balanced approach in housing as stated above.

[Neilhuny]

What fantastic homes and buildings. Every single one made me think "Wow" for lots of different reasons.

[christianrolle]

Mad respect to people that could live off the grid, but I could never live outside of a city. Thanks so much for making these, they always make my day and teach me something new. number 5 Had to be my favorite It looks so gorgeous I can only imagine the wildlife you'd be meeting everyday from your window.

[mistrylyra]

“House of The Big Arch” has me ready to sell an arm and a leg. What a beauty 🥵🤍✨

[rojojezrielc]

All are beautiful, creative and stunning! I can’t choose which stands most of these buildings because individually, it has its own designs and creativity! What a sustainable structures! I love all of these! 🌟 ♥️

[Neilhuny]

10. Ruin Studio – Scotland
9. Bruny Island Cabin – Tasmania
8. The Stamp House – Queensland
7. Dusky Parakeet Houseboat – London
6. Woodmans’ Eco Hut – Scotland
5. House of the Big Arch – South Africa
4. Summit Prairie - Oregon
3. Floating Home - Canada
2. Mountain Home - California
1. Earthship Ironbank – South Australia

My personal favourite - a REALLY tough decision amongst such great competition - is 7. I recommend people follow the links in the description

[audreyschmitt]

South Africa had the most stunning home out of the bunch!

[kanewitter]

From late 2020 in December, I began searching places on where I can start a new life away from world civilization.

I daydream about everyday since my senior year of high school because I sometimes just want to go on my own journey, adventures, and direction and because I want to feel reconnected more to the Earth itself and make it my home.

I want to live off grid because there is too much problems in our world and I just don't to be in these situations for where we have to suffer with others from ongoing taxes, wars, greed, politics, conflicts, money, electricity, power, traffic, overcrowdness, and businesses.

[dark_lovely]

I love this video, as I was looking for for number 8# after watching the mole on Netflix.

[sustainablelivingschool]

Great summary video and a good cross section of homes to choose from as far as picking a favourite!! I like the off grid cabin with the two light bulbs as my personal favourite! What was yours while researching these?

[stevehartman]

My late wealthy uncle bought one Sunday paper a wk. He'd remove all coupons n use n trsde w others. He'd use funnies for wrapping paper gifts securing w string. Then after reading the paper He'd wrap paper round broom handle secureing with metal

[rumeysaterzioglu]

These are stunning. My favorite is number 6. But, there is an essential contradiction for the sustainable. The houses are not affordable for every class. So, if we gonna reduce carbon footprint globally how can we do it ?

[stevehartman]

Metal coathanger so he had 52 free firelogs and hed compost the ashes and when the coathsnger became brittle he put it n the scrsp metal to sell. Good for the environment and his wallet. He had no garbage bill as he recycled all. Saving $17 per month and he always put any savings into sny principle of mortgages.

[ianofliverpool]

I`ve just purchased a fuel guzzling truck so I can make lots of pointless journeys whilst leaving all my lights on at home:)

[vintagevibes]

Could all humans live like this and it still be considered sustainable? Otherwise it’s a lifestyle not a potential way of global being.