10 Off-the-Grid Homes for a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle

Many people share the common goal of one day being a homeowner. That goal may look a little different for travelers, who have seen the world and know there are many different kinds of homes out there to live in — especially off the grid homes. It’s difficult to narrow down your options once you’re ready to buy, and it can be hard to find your dream home that’s also off the grid. You don’t need to live in a tent to have a self-sufficient lifestyle. Check out these amazing off-the-grid homes that will have you house-hunting with an entirely new frame of mind.

1. Tasmania, Australia

People who love to travel know that some of the best getaway spots are found in locations that aren’t the most popular. You can skip the tourist spots and still find the place of your dreams, which is exactly what David Burns did. He traveled to Australia and then boated out to Tasmania, a nearby island. Here, he discovered a mostly untouched landscape, perfect for getting off the grid. He used the land for inspiration and worked with an architectural firm to create a sustainable house that harvests rainwater on the roof. It was also equipped with solar water heaters and panels, so he could live off green energy. With its modern design, it’s a far cry from the log cabin many picture when they imagine living off the grid.

2. California, U.S.

The California coast provides amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Anacapa Architecture decided to give people a panoramic view of the ocean from a self-sustaining home. That led to the creation of The Guest House. It runs off a photovoltaic system, so the entire home is solar-powered. It’s also a low-lying house, so it has little to no impact on the surrounding natural environment.

3. Washington, U.S.

Ont thing people think about off-the-grid homes is that they can’t hold in the heat they produce from green energy production methods. Architect Jesse Garlick solved this issue when he built a weathered steel house in Washington. The two-story solar panel house uses weathered steel plates as the siding to hold in heat during the winter. The look of the steel perfectly blends with the natural bedrock in the surrounding area. It’s a design that anyone who practices minimalist habits would fall in love with, since it makes a bold statement without leaving the realm of minimalist design.

4. Scotland Highlands

In the beautiful and vast highlands of Scotland sits a house made by Haysom Ward Millar Architects. It’s entirely off the grid, producing energy from solar panels and getting water for its inhabitants through a borehole. The cottage is made with natural wood and rock sourced from the same area it was built, making it entirely sustainable. This is one of the best off-the-grid homes, winning RIBA House of the Year in 2018.

5. Ohio, U.S.

Greg Dutton made a name for himself in the architecture world, and he continued to do so when he built his off-the-grid home in Ohio. Given as a birthday gift to his father, the home is a cozy cabin that overlooks a lake. It has the same charming look and feel of any cabin people look forward to vacationing in, but it’s the perfect sustainable getaway.

6. Zwavelpoort, South Africa

When Nadine Englebrecht decided to build a house in South Africa, she took sustainable design to heart. The home she ended up building features a two-story conservatory, surrounded by glass. These glass panels keep in the sunlight that naturally warms the home, circulating it through the other rooms. It’s also connected with two local dams for its water supply, plus solar panels for eco-friendly electricity.

7. Colorado, U.S.

The desert isn’t traditionally known for anything other than a vast expanse of sand and heat, but the DesignBuildBLUFF architecture company saw its potential for off-the-grid homes. It put together a sustainable home on the Colorado Plateau, creating a modern design that’s sheltered by four massive photovoltaic panels. It’s a quiet getaway for those looking to live an entirely eco-friendly life.

8. Extremadura, Spain

It came to the attention of Abaton Architects that there was a crumbling stone barn located in Spain that had a lot of potential. They used that potential to transform the barn into a sustainable home. Big enough to raise a family in, this home reflects its prior use with the stone used as its exterior paneling. It uses both solar and hydroelectricity since it’s located near two rushing streams.

9. Huron County, Ontario

Some people interested in a sustainable home also want to farm their own food, which is what Lisa Moffitt’s house in Huron County, Ontario, is perfect for. Located on 25 acres of land, it has triple-glazed windows and solar panels, and it features barn architecture without losing the comforting feel of a home. If you’re worried this kind of house would be a struggle to design, reading homemaking blogs can help.

10. Hawaii, U.S.

Graham Hill of LifeEdited decided Maui was the perfect place for a new challenge. He wanted to build an entirely sustainable home for a family to live on the island. He ended up with one of the best off-the-grid homes in the state. It produces more energy than it uses, thanks to solar panels and an in-house water filtration system. As an extra precaution, he also uses dry toilets to minimize his water usage and uses the waste for fertilizer. It’s one of the easiest ways to have a more sustainable home.

Sustainability Is Possible

Because the majority of modern houses use technology that isn’t entirely eco-friendly, it can be hard to figure out how to live in a sustainable home. These homes stand as an example that sustainability is possible wherever you want to live, as long as you think through how the house will remain off the grid.