The Fab Lab House, designed by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), was selected to compete in the Solar Decathlon Europe competition in Madrid, Spain. This innovative tiny house features integrated solar power, environmental monitoring, and smart home technology. Fab Lab House Exterior Design Details Designer: Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) [...]
Off-Grid Living
Yestermorrow Design/Build School: Hands-On Sustainable Building Courses
Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vermont offers hands-on courses in sustainable design, construction, woodworking, and natural building. Operating as a non-profit organization since 1980, the school provides learning experiences ranging from one-day workshops to multi-week certificate programs. Yestermorrow Sleeping Cabins School Details Name: Yestermorrow Design/Build School Location: 189 VT Route 100, Warren, Vermont Founded: 1980 [...]
Thermoelectric Boots: Human-Powered Phone Charging for Off-Grid Living
Thermoelectric technology offers one solution to a common off-grid challenge: keeping devices charged without access to the electrical grid. Orange developed prototype “Power Wellies” that generate electricity from body heat while walking, hiking, or dancing—demonstrating how human energy can power small electronics. Thermoelectric Boot Design Image © Orange Power Generation Technology Human Energy Harvesting Concept [...]
Platform Tents at Dosewallips State Park: Rustic Glamping in Washington
Platform tents offer a middle ground between traditional camping and cabin stays. At Dosewallips State Park in Washington State, visitors can experience this style of rustic glamping in canvas-walled structures built on raised wooden platforms. Platform Tent at Dosewallips Photo Credit: Smastrong/Flickr Design Details Size: 14 x 16 feet (224 square feet) Location: Dosewallips State [...]
Dugout Dick: Idaho’s Cave Dwelling Community on the Salmon River
Richard “Dugout Dick” Zimmerman lived in hand-dug caves along Idaho’s Salmon River for over 60 years. Using only a pickax, shovel, and wheelbarrow, he carved an entire community of cave dwellings into the hillside and rented them to visitors seeking simple, off-grid living. Cave Dwelling Video Tour Video © YERT (Your Environmental Road Trip) About [...]
N55 Walking House: Off-Grid Mobile Dwelling with Mechanical Legs
The Walking House by N55 is an experimental mobile dwelling designed for nomadic living. Powered by solar panels and small windmills, it features mechanical legs that allow movement across various terrains without roads. The design includes rainwater collection, water heating, composting toilet, and a wood-burning stove. Walking House with Solar Panels Photo Credit: N55 Mechanical [...]
Off-Grid RV with Solar Panels and Wind Turbine: Self-Contained Mobile Living
This custom off-grid RV demonstrates how mobile homes can achieve complete energy independence through a combination of solar panels, wind turbines, and rainwater collection. The setup allows for extended boondocking without hookups or generators. Off-Grid RV Exterior Wind Turbine Installation A small wind turbine supplements solar power, especially useful on cloudy days or at night [...]