Building Off the Grid

Jared Capp highlights the many luxuries of off-grid living with a modern home in South Dakota's Black Hills. The all-solar-powered abode has a wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen and a 400-square-foot loft.

A family attempts to build a 400-square foot cabin on a small island.

Mark Smith builds a modular home on an 85-foot-high cliff off the coast of Vancouver, Canada. The pressure is on as any mistake could result in the home tumbling down into the sea.

A novice builder attempts to construct a 600-square-foot stone cabin in Vermont's White River Valley but his inexperience, the harsh winter and the unusual architecture push him to his limits.

A couple of pro builders construct an upcycled off-grid homestead with catamaran style and a luxury yacht aesthetic deep in the sprawling South Carolina islands.

A couple builds self-sustaining home near the Ozark National Forest. And while they both have renovation experience, building on the dangerous mountainside terrain in a location plagued by flash foods will be a challenge.

A group of off-grid-living enthusiasts come together to build a 300-square-foot bungalow. With a variety of eco-friendly features, including a solar-powered water pump, this house is a welcome addition to the environmentally friendly community.

Peter and Ashley Jensen build a sustainable straw bale panel house in the Hudson Valley -- the first of its kind in the States. The race against nature is as they attempt to finish before the East Coast winter sets in.

A Montana carpenter has big plans to build a unique pontoon houseboat so he can live on Flathead Lake year-round.

A father-son duo builds a 720-square foot stick-frame home completely off the grid in Montana's Flathead Valley.

A mother-and-son team pulls up stakes from the crowded confines of Orange County to build an off-grid family commune outside Keaau, Hawaii. With the help of a skilled aircrete instructor, the duo overcomes a learning curve to make their dreams come true.

A pro builder constructs an off-grid modular home on a cliff in Vancouver.