Living Off The Grid

John Schaeffer and Nancy Hensley had a vision for an eco-friendly house that was put into reality in 2002 when they worked with architect Craig Henritzy to build their home in Hopland, California – the Sunhawk. Utilizing a design that combines energy efficiency, green building techniques and a hybrid shape between a red-tailed hawk and the sun – which not-so-incedently powers their home with the help of a micro-hydroelectric turbine down the hill – John and Nancy created something much more than just a ‘house’.

The Sunhawk sits up the mountainside in Hopland overlooking the valley where John works on his two other labors-of-love: the Solar Living Institute and Real Goods store. In addition to the house itself (which is an off-grid, passive and active solar design made from rastra-block and other green building materials), there is a barn, two ponds, a meditation area, a vineyard, two lucky dogs, an olive grove and a labyrinth of lavender plants. Check out the video below, in which John explains some of the background in the design of this green home: