Living Off The Grid

There are definitely some easy, stylish options available but they just cost too much right now. Like anything new (flat screen TVs, home computers…) they will drop in price in the coming years as the process of making them becomes more efficient and the competition more fierce.

Here’s a taste of what we can look forward to being almost as affordable as a regular mobile home or prefab in the future…

Cottage / Cabin Sized Green Prefab Homes

Too small for a house, but perfect for an instant Eco-Cabin if we could find one for the right price:
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2009/01/green-home-prefab-cottage-in-a-day.html

Really cute cottages for rental but too expensive. I checked prices
and these things can cost as much as $200k.
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/11/reclaimed-space.html

Another cool cabin / cottage option but can’t find out the price:
http://www.powerhouse-enterprises.com/powerpod/index.shtml
Example: http://www.powerhouse-enterprises.com/powerpod/neseapics07.html

Family-Sized Green Prefabricated Houses

These are big enough to actually live in, but are not affordable yet for most people.

The designs on their website are more than $150k for anything livable, but you can get cabin-rental sized units for about $65k.  Keep in mind that doens’t inlucde septic tank, foundation, electric hookup, etc…
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/12/johnson-creek-w.html

I think this is the same company as above but a different design:
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2007/12/marfa-weehouse.html

Here’s their website:
http://weehouse.com/flash/SFWA_index.html#/2008/

This company does pretty cool modulars (example below) but they aren’t any cheaper than building a regular home:
http://www.newworldhome.net/
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/09/country-living.html

This company offers everything from 550 sq foot cabins to 1,500 sq foot homes. Pricing is on the website, but the “home sized” one is over $200k:
http://methodhomes.net/prefabricated-modular/pricing.html#model2

A green prefab trailer but cost is as much as a normal home:
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/06/hom-draws-a-cro.html