Living off the grid sounds a bit odd for me, but some people totally love that kind of experience. It’s tough to leave behind all those things we take for granted in the 21st century but the tiny and stylish egg-shaped Ecocapsule could be the low-energy home that will change our minds.
Designed by Bratislava-based Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule is a micro-shelter which brags about being extremely sustainable. It’s ultra-portable, powered by solar and wind energy and it even includes rainwater collection and filtration.
Measuring 4.5 meters in length, 2.4 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in height , this pod is just a big bigger than your standard car, coming with 8 square meters (86 square feet) of usable floor space.
This thing will easily accommodate 2 adults, featuring a folding bed, two large operable windows, a working/dining area and also a shower. It even comes with a flushable toilet, special storage space and a built-in kitchenette with running water. You might need a satellite phone to make sure you’re always connected to the world, but that’s another story.
The Ecocapsule benefits from a built-in 750W wind turbine and a 2.6-square-meter array of high-efficiency solar cells (600W output) to offer its inhabitants the power they so crave. The dual-power system, along with a high-capacity battery, makes this shelter usable even in times of low solar or wind activity.
With each Ecocapsule weighing just 1,500 kilograms, you could take these mobile home basically anywhere with you, since it fits in any standard shipping container. It might be just a concept right now, but the Ecocapsule is expected to be available for sale later this year, with the first deliveries expected for the beginning of 2016.
[inhabitat]
