Ecocapsules: Sustainable Tiny Houses Let You Live Anywhere Off The Grid

You may have heard of the "tiny house movement." In an attempt to combat our ever growing materialism and patterns of consumption, a number of people are flocking to tiny houses. Because of their small size, these living quarters are extremely efficient. It takes very little energy to heat and cool them, and they only use a little material to make.

But the Ecocapsule takes things to a whole new level.

These egg-shaped little homes come from a group called Nice Architects, which is based in Bratislava, Slovakia. And when we say "little," we do mean "little." The home is just 2.6 sq meters (28 sq feet), and this small space is jammed with sustainable tech. There is a solar array on the roof, and an integrated battery system. The Ecocapsule also comes with a silent 750 W wind turbine and a composting shower and toilet. If that's not enough, the wind turbine is set on a retractable pole, making it easy to pack up and move to new locations. In addition to this, the Ecocapsule comes with a rainwater collection and filtration system that can provide clean drinking water.

The team states that these features make the Ecocapsule amazingly efficient. Indeed, it could allow people to live on their own for extended periods: "This creates an energy system that can support you for almost an entire year in many off-grid locations," the team said.

However, the Ecocapsule was designed to be more than just a home (a lot more). It was also designed to serve as an independent research station, tourist room unit, or emergency housing unit. In times of emergency, this could provide space for refugees. In the aftermath of devastating earthquakes or other natural disasters, it could provide shelter and clean water to many who have lost their homes.

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The down side? Well, units like this don't come cheap—we're talking prices around €79,000 ($84,500). Still, if the right companies invest in this technology, they may be affordable sometime in the near future.