25 homes that prove off-grid can be gorgeous

Accessible only by off-road vehicle, this adorable shack in West Virginia was designed for the simple life, with a small but open-concept feel and no electricity.

A steel-clad rural home has faded to perfectly blend with its red-brown surroundings. The 820-square-foot space is heated by a wood stove, uses solar power for electricity, propane for cooking, and a well for water.

This tiny combination of stone, wood, and glass is completely off the grid and was even designed in a super slender shape to ensure no trees had to be cut down to lay the foundation.

This lodge-style home looks overwhelming but is really only 1700 square feet, has no television or internet, and is heated by a wood-burning stove.

A boxy wood cottage in Montana blends well in its surroundings, perched on steel stilts to take advantage of sweeping lake views. This cabin doesn't feature luxuries like heat or air conditioning, and all water is pumped from the lake.

This classic black cabin has no electricity but plenty of charm. There is no refrigerator or stove, so food is always eaten fresh and prepared over a fire—isn't that the dream?

This dreamy cabin in Sullivan County, New York has no running water or electricity, and was built with 100-year-old barn wood. No worries, you're not completely off the grid. There is a wood-fired water heater for a fresh, hot bath with water from the nearby brook, and the outhouse has a composting toilet.

This off-grid, natural straw bale house near Madoc, Ontario was built in 2004 using all natural materials.

How could we forget the hobbit house that a self-taught builder crafted in four months for less than $5,000? It doesn't get much more off-the-grid than living partially underground.

Despite its size and traditional design, this off-grid, solar powered home is one of the most energy-efficient properties in the Colorado area.

This super cool eco-house somehow manages both a huge skylight and a turf roof.

Gorgeous views aside, this tiny coastal house in Maine is almost completely self sustaining.

This modern variety is straight out of Los Angeles but was made with recycled materials and features a bunch of "green" amenities including solar energy, rain water capture, and water recycling.

Solar panels don't have to be as unsightly as they used to be. Two well placed roll-out panels offer a subtle break on the energy bill at this handmade house. Even the porch has a green roof!

This gorgeous cabin was designed by Team Montreal for the 2007 Solar Decathlon. A full roof of unassuming solar panels and exterior walls scattered with plant life show that energy efficient truly is beautiful.

With renovations done to include a geothermal mechanical system and energy-efficient lighting, this 18th-century tavern in Pennsylvania proves that going even a little bit "off-the-grid" doesn't mean you have to totally modernize your space.

This house near Reykjavik, Iceland has a turf roof and walls that are used to provide superior insulation against the long-lasting cold weather.

Grass or turf houses are fairly common in Sweden and much of Scandinavia, where the eco-friendly roofs are used for stability and easy insulation. This adorable cottage with a sod roof is in Torshavn, Faroe Islands.

This cozy, cottagey home in Santa Cruz is completely off the grid, and even has composting toilets.

With gorgeous panoramic views and a large open deck, you'll be happy to know this Australian property runs on solar panels and a power-generating windmill.

This gorgeous, Japanese-inspired home is solar-powered, heated by a wood stove, and was constructed of materials found within a 10-mile radius of the structure.

This tiny, simple home (designed to be either 248 sq. ft. or 409 sq. ft.) can apparently be installed in four hours and is compatible with a waste-treatment unit and solar thermal energy for heat.

Pump house, designed by Branch Studio Architects, was built using affordable materials—plywood, corrugated sheeting, and rough-sawn timber—and runs in rural Victoria, Australia, on off-grid solutions like rainwater tanks, solar power, and a wood-burning stove.

Talk about blending in with your surroundings. This off-grid home near Blyth, Ontario was designed to resemble other structures in this farming region—namely, barns. A nearby well serves as the main water source and solar panels on the roof generate energy for the interior space.

This open-concept hexagon is one in a series of tiny, off-grid homes designed by a Romanian green-tech firm. The houses range from a modest 516 sq ft model to the "family-friendly" 1070 sq ft home. Each can be personally customized to suit need and budget, with sustainable options that include wind power, solar power, water collection, and a geothermal heating system.