Founder | BPI® Energy Auditor Certified Professional
If you’re looking for a unique and sustainable way to travel, we’ve got you covered! We’ve scoured Airbnb to bring you eight incredible net-zero homes available for rent right now.
These eco-friendly homes utilize renewable energy sources, sustainable materials, and energy-efficient design to create a stylish living space that reduces its environmental impact.
Each of these homes offers an unforgettable experience that will leave you feeling inspired and rejuvenated. So why wait? Book your stay now and take the first step toward a greener future!
What Are Net-Zero Homes?
Net-zero homes have a net zero energy consumption, meaning they produce as much energy as they consume. These homes typically use sustainable energy resources like wind turbines and solar panels to make electrical power (but it’s usually solar for residential homes).
By doing this, they reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources, which assists in decreasing the discharge of greenhouse gases and fighting against global warming.
Check Out These Amazing Net-Zero Homes You Can Rent on Airbnb
1. Artemisia Home
Artemisia is a vacation rental home that uses solar energy. It’s the first in the region with over 200 reviews and a 4.96 rating, a truly amazing accomplishment as a short-term rental.
Located in Winthrop, Washington, United States, some of the home’s features include:
● Triple-pane windows for panoramic views of Methow Valley and Mount Gardner.
● Non-toxic and earth-friendly finishes, which ensure excellent indoor air quality.
● Paperstone countertops, natural limestone tile, cork flooring, and zero-VOC paint.
Because they did such a nice job with the description, there’s no need to edit it. But check out all the additional features:
The space
Artemisia is the first zero-energy, solar-powered vacation rental home in the region. Over the course of the year, it produces enough clean electricity from the sun to meet all of its energy needs. It features polished concrete floors, ultra-efficient heat pump heat, hot water, and clothes drying, and panoramic vistas of the Methow Valley and snowcapped Mount Gardner through triple-pane windows. Non-toxic and earth-friendly finishes, such as zero-VOC paint, Paperstone countertops, natural limestone tile, all-natural latex mattresses, and cork flooring ensure excellent indoor air quality. A state-of-the-art air-handling system brings a gentle flow of fresh air to every room of this super-insulated home.
The home is best suited for six or fewer adults but can accommodate groups of up to eight people. You can rent this beautiful home for a starting price of $225 per night.
You can check out more on the home (including the build process and tons of pictures) here.
2. The NODE Prototype – By NOMAD
One of my favorites, this new netzero concept has one of the best designs I’ve seen. And in fact, I just spoke to Zach, one of the founders the other day about.
This house aims to tackle many different issues with housing and the environment that we completely agree with:
- Smaller homes make the affordability of buying more attainable.
- A smaller environmental footprint, energy efficiency, and solar make it easier to go netzero.
- A home can still be small. It’s not as tiny as a tiny house, but has just about everything you need for a great single-bedroom home.
- This was created to be a part of a bigger membership program, to allow for flexible housing for remote workers and digital nomads, something very unique and needed within the nomad world.
This unique concept consistently books out and above-average rates. Zach and his team are currently building a Nomad Nation community with 40 of these onsite, including a 3,000+ square foot community center as part of the larger concept in the Raleigh, NC area.
Build Your Own NODE
What’s also very cool about this company is that they’re building a community and network of similar locations, offering the exact plans to build your own NODE.
But there’s more to the story. This is really about creating affordable/attainable housing, and helping people to start building wealth and to own an affordable asset. We’re really big advocates on this one too, as you can see in our original article about The Incredible Benefits Of Owning One Home In Your Lifetime.
By creating a smaller, streamlined, modern, and netzero home, you check many boxes on your way to building a real asset, whether you live in it yourself or rent it out (long or short term like on Airbnb).
While the building costs depend on your location, contractor, material costs at the time, and more, you can expect on average to pay around $300/sq ft, or $175,000 or so. But again, you’ll have to quote and verify your own numbers.
They did the heavy lifting to create the architectural plans, and spent multiple 5-figures to perfect the design. They’re offering the plans for sale because they’re looking to expand their Nomad network and help others build their own.
I reached out to Zach (one of the co-founders), who gave us a $250 discount code if you want to use it. If you’d like to check out the actual plans and license for it, use the promo code “ATTAINBLE” at check out here.
It’s truly a unique concept and idea, and I’m going to visit and stay in it myself on my next trip to Raleigh to check it out!
3. Dwell – Net Zero Energy Living
This home in Portland, Oregon can hold up to five guests. Some of its features are:
- 18 solar panels that produce surplus energy beyond the building’s power consumption.
- A tiled shower with an unlimited supply of hot water.
- A modern and well-equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, and microwave.
- A rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater for irrigation and other non-potable water needs.
- Ready access to public transportation from the abode.
- A secluded fenced yard.
Here’s what they have to say about the space from the Airbnb listing:
Now Net Zero Energy! Just installed 18 solar panels that cover more electricity that the building uses! New modern House with gourmet kitchen. Enjoy the tile shower with endless hot water, Netflix on the tv, and cozy furniture. Short walk to Woodstock village with Double Mountain Brewing, New Seasons. Easy access to public transportation, or sit back and relax on the patio. 500 square feet in this guest house and you have the place to yourself. There is a fenced yard that is pretty private.
If you wish to rent at Dwell – Net Zero Energy Living home, it starts at about $130 per night.
4. Net Zero in Village
The Net Zero in Village is a beautiful brick house in Saugerties, New York. The location is close to many popular attractions, including HITS, Hunter Mountain, the Catskills, Kingston, Hudson, and Woodstock.
- A net-zero energy design offering filtered fresh air for an eco-friendly experience.
- Energy-saving features like solar panels.
- Large windows to provide gorgeous views of the waterfall, Esopus Creek, Hudson River, and Overlook Mountain for a secluded escape.
Best of both worlds! Lovingly reimagined 4 bd/3.5 ba brick house in the Village of Saugerties – 5 minute walk to many great restaurants &shops.
But inside, you feel secluded in your own private escape with gorgeous views over the large yard, Hudson river (in winter), Overlook mountain, Esopus Creek and waterfall.
PLUS, this is a net zero energy house with filtered fresh air.
Close to HITS and lighthouse, short drive to the Catskills, Woodstock, Hudson, Kingston, Hunter Mountain.The space
Come enjoy our beautiful home! 4 bedrooms / 3.5 baths, large open living room + kitchen, separate dining room, den/play room w roku tv (w Netflix, & many channel apps), washer/dryer and awesome big back deck and yard for kids to play. We also have 2 pack & plays – one in the master closet & one in the downstairs bedroom closet. The house has top of the line energy efficient large windows for lots of natural light and wide sweeping views, but maintains some rustic charm with beautiful original wide plank wood floors.
Guests can access the four-bedroom house at $447 per night while you stay just north of New York City in New York.
5. Modern Beach Container Home
The Modern Beach Container Home is a sustainable and cost-effective accommodation option for those who love the beach and surfing in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
The builders made this cozy and environmentally friendly home from:
● Original mahogany floors
● Paperstone countertops
● Recycled shipping containers
Furthermore, the home has:
● Casper mattresses
● Surfboards
● An outdoor shower
● Within walking distance of the beach
The home showcases the possibility of comfortable living in small spaces while safeguarding its natural surroundings.
The nightly rate for this lovely home starts from $125.
6. Dreamy Tropical Tree House
If you’re looking for an isolated or romantic rainforest adventure on Hawaii’s largest island, this house in Fern Forest is the perfect getaway.
The treehouse is built from bamboo, 15 feet above the ground, and features DIY light fixtures. It boasts various green initiatives, such as:
- Natural lighting
- Rainwater catchment
- Solar power
The nightly rate starts at $250. Every evening spent comes with a contribution through Cool Earth to conserve four trees in Papua Guinea, thus aiding in preserving 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide.
One of the most fun aspects of this property is that it allows you the opportunity to experience true off-grid living without sacrificing any of the comforts of normal life. Natural lighting, solar power and rain water catchment are the three principles that have been integrated into this tree top design, making it almost like a living organism itself.
Moreover, visitors have the opportunity to relish native coffee, chemical-free shampoo and conditioner, and a shower that extends both indoors and outdoors. A truly wonderful combination of environmental technologies to create nothing but tranquility during your stay.
7. Off-Grid itHouse
The Off-Grid itHouse is a unique vacation rental outside Pioneertown in California’s high desert. It features environmentally-safe features such as:
- Solar panels
- Sliding entrances constructed with Solarban 60 Glass
- noted as one of the top 10 airbnb rentals worldwide
- Solar hot water
- 100% off-grid with no municipal services
This minimal living home utilizes only natural resources, and visitors are treated to doorstep delivery of freshly-squeezed juice.
The space
The Off-grid itHouse is an architecturally significant house, recently noted by Dwell as one of the ‘Best Homes in America’ and in the Los Angeles Times as one of the best houses of all time in Southern California. The Off-grid itHouse is one of 10 IT Houses built in California, which have received much acclaim such as the Western Home award sponsored by Sunset magazine. Also noted as one of the top 10 airbnb rentals worldwide. This is the prototype for the pre-engineered system known as the IT House.
The house is 100% off-grid, powered by solar panels for energy and hot water, and is located in a pristine remote valley in the beautiful California high desert. The house observes key green principals of smaller footprint, minimal disturbance to the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, use of renewable resources, and living simply and minimally.
The itHouse has appeared in various publications, including Sunset Magazine, Los Angeles Times, and Dwell.
It offers a one-of-a-kind off-the-grid dwelling experience for those lucky enough to stay there. The cost per night for this charming house begins at $380 and up.
Features of a Net-Zero Home: What to Expect
Here are some features you can expect to find in a net-zero home:
- Solar panels – The dwellings possess photovoltaic panels installed on the rooftop that transform sunlight into electricity, which fuels the residential electric setups.
- Energy-efficient insulation – Builders achieve energy efficiency by using high-quality insulation materials in the walls, ceilings, and floors.
- Triple-pane windows– These window fittings are created
- to prevent heat loss and gain. Triple-pane windows come with three glass panes with insulating gas in between.
- Energy-efficient HVAC system – A net-zero home typically features a low-power-use air conditioning (HVAC) setup, ventilation, and high-energy performance heating. This is realized by creating optimally ventilated spaces requiring minimal HVAC unit input.
- Energy-efficient appliances – In a net-zero home, you can expect to find energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and LED light bulbs.
- Smart home technology – This technology allows you to control the home’s systems and appliances remotely so you can manage your energy consumption more effectively.
Conclusion
Net-zero homes are paving the way for sustainable living. With their increasing popularity, it’s no wonder that they have become a sought-after rental option for environmentally conscious travelers.
These eight net-zero homes offer a unique opportunity to experience eco-friendly living without sacrificing comfort or style.
So, if you’re looking for a relaxing and sustainable vacation, consider booking one of these net-zero homes on Airbnb and enjoy a guilt-free getaway while reducing your carbon footprint!