- The Greater World Community, a neighborhood in Taos, New Mexico, is filled with off-grid homes known as Earthships.
- The community includes about a dozen eco-friendly houses that are available to rent through Airbnb.
- Many of the homes are equipped with greenhouses and have big windows that showcase stunning desert sunsets.
- The homes, which use solar energy and rainwater, are available to rent from $95 to $245 a night at the time of writing.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
When a visitor wakes up to glittering light coming through the windows and a view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Taos, New Mexico, it might be hard to imagine that they’ve just slept in a house made of trash.
The homes, called Earthships, are built from recycled bottles, cans, and old tires. There’s a community of more than 100 of the eco-friendly dwellings located in the desert of Taos.
The Earthship design was created by Michael Reynolds in the 1970s with the goal of providing people with a more sustainable way to live. The structures are off-grid and autonomous; solar panels on the buildings collect energy from the wind, and the homes have the ability to collect rainwater. They’re also equipped with greywater systems, which let people filter and reuse water for bathing and agriculture.
While hundreds of people live this life day-to-day, about a dozen Earthships in the community of Taos are available for short-term rentals through Airbnb. The listings include plenty of space to isolate, and the views are otherworldly.
Take a look inside some of the Earthships available for rental.
Editor's note: Airbnb has made an Enhanced Cleaning Protocol available in 75 countries, which ensures hosts' properties meet guidelines for cleaning and sanitization. Airbnb has also published a list of COVID-19-related safety and social-distancing recommendations for hosts and guests.
One Earthship available to rent on Airbnb is the Phoenix Earthship, which has a spacious garden and stunning views.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
The two-bedroom, three-bathroom home can sleep up to four people and costs $245 a night.
The traditional Earthship design includes large windows where plants, vegetables, and fruits can be grown, creating a lush environment in the middle of the desert.
At night, the Phoenix Earthship is illuminated, and the surrounding desert showcases a starry night sky.
You can also opt for this one-bedroom Earthship, which is big enough for two people and costs $100 per night.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
It's one of the newest Earthships in Taos and is filled with vibrant colors.
The master bedroom has beautiful arches looking into the home's atrium.
There's also the nearby Lemuria Earthship, which can accommodate up to four guests.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
At $169 a night, visitors can stay in the cozy home and take a tour of the neighborhood, which is also included in the rental price.
The Earthship is filled with comfy leather couches and cozy furnishings.
Although the homes are off-grid, they are filled with modern amenities, like Wi-Fi, hot water, and televisions.
You could also opt for the Taos Earthship Studio 2, which lets guests enjoy breathtaking mountain views.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
The home is listed for $95 a night and can host two people.
The modern Earthship has a bright interior and tons of natural light.
Visitors who like a more eclectic style might consider staying at the Oddhouse Taos Earthship.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
The home's massive windows seamlessly connect the indoors and outdoors, allowing visitors to enjoy New Mexico's breathtaking sunsets.
The colorful, one-bedroom home can house up to three guests for $165 a night.
The bedroom has curved walls and windows that look out to the mountains.
The Taos Earthship: Modern + Mesa is a two-bedroom home that features unique architecture.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
As the sun sets, the curved bathroom illuminates the entire home.
The home can be rented for $145 a night and accommodates two guests.
There's also the Picuris Earthship, which has an on-property greenhouse and amazing mountain views.
Find the Airbnb listing here.
The home is $210 per night and can accommodate up to six guests in its two bedrooms.
The large kitchen and spacious living room make this Earthship ideal for a family.
- Read more:
- What life is like for people living in off-grid, sustainable homes called Earthships - and why lockdowns have created a wave of interest in the lifestyle
- A couple lives in an off-grid Earthship made out of bottles, tires, and other materials collected from the trash
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