These days, living in a luxurious home needn’t cost the earth or your wallet. Running completely off the grid and producing their own energy, these dreamy dwellings have swapped eye-watering utility bills for the sustainable life – all without compromising on style. Let's take a look around these lavish homes that cost nothing to run.

This off-grid guest house was designed by architects Anacapa and generates all of the energy it needs to run. Located in a beautiful unspoilt coastal area in a wildlife preserve near Santa Barbara, it has a sleek low profile and a green roof to reduce its visual impact on the surrounding landscape.

Love this? Step inside these stunning homes made from shipping containers.

The house was built using sustainable materials to minimise environmental impact throughout the construction process. Swathes of sliding glass frame 360-degree views across the Pacific Ocean and the breathtaking valleys below. Ideal for those who enjoy living on the edge, half of the property cantilevers out over the hillside.

Inside, a palette of concrete, wood and metal creates an industrial-style living space with a stunning raw finish. The guest house itself and the owner’s nearby residence are both off-grid – essential since this secluded area has no mains electricity supply. A photovoltaic solar energy system provides 100% of the electricity they need, while LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances reduce consumption.

Minimal and modernist in design, an L-shaped deck offers a seamless connection to the great outdoors. Overhanging the rock faces below, it offers the perfect vantage point to soak up the spectacular scenery. We can't imagine a more indulgent spot to reconnect with nature.

Nestled in the leafy green suburbs of Sao Paulo, this luxurious home was designed by Studio Arthur Casas using Syshaus – a prefab home building system that produces minimal waste. Sleek and stylish in design, the property is a modern oasis from the outside world.

The one-bed luxury home is packed with gadgets for sustainable living – a built-in rainwater system reduces water consumption and photovoltaic solar panels generate electricity. A clever biodigester produces gas for the kitchen and fireplace from food and other organic waste.

A customisable design, the chic interior mixes natural materials with sleek modern architecture. Homeowners can choose from a range of layouts and finishes, from the kitchen cabinetry to the flooring and furnishings.

As well as renewable tech, the home can be fully automated for minimal fuss, with smart security cameras, a built-in water management system and even smart locks that can be controlled via an app on your phone. Talk about low maintenance!

A giant conservatory forms the centrepiece of this spectacular off-grid home on a farm just outside Pretoria. With three bedrooms, the stunning property is a triumph of modern architecture, integrating views of the rolling hills with the stylish interior spaces.

Designed by South African architect Nadine Engelbrecht, the cathedral-like conservatory forms the heart of the home, with bright contemporary living spaces leading off from the main room. Decorated in a mixture of modern and rustic materials, the home isn't short of surprises. In the kitchen, there's a hidden trap door that leads down to a subterranean wine cellar – the perfect hideaway for vino lovers.

The unique farmhouse uses passive building principles to regulate the internal temperate, with glass panels capturing the sun’s heat. In the summer months, the façade of the conservatory can be raised to maximise ventilation and keep the house cool. Elsewhere, solar panels generate electricity and two onsite dams provide water for the residents.

Love this? Escape to the country with these fabulous farmhouses for sale.

The spacious master suite on the first floor benefits from an overhanging balcony where residents can kick back and watch the sunset over the rugged vistas. The owners wanted the home to have a strong connection with the rural landscape, so part of the roof is cleverly submerged in the hillside.

This brand-new luxury villa occupies a stunning location overlooking Baie Rouge Beach and Marigot Bay on the island of St Martin in the Caribbean. This piece of paradise can be yours, as it's currently on the market for £6.2 million ($7.9m).

Searching for a remote retreat? These paradise islands for sale cost less than a city apartment.

The property's views are second to none, with the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea just a stone's throw away. This tranquil oasis doesn't just look spectacular – it's also self-sustainable, generating energy via a solar system and recycling rainwater for use throughout the house.

No expense has been spared on the interior, where a fabulous open-plan living space takes centre stage. Sliding glass doors lead out to a covered terrace where you can relax on loungers or take a dip in the infinity pool and admire the spectacular views.

The villa has five bedrooms, including four on the main level. Two of these comprise of lavish master suites, which have outdoor bathtubs and showers. There’s a separate self-contained apartment on the lower level that contains the fifth bedroom, plus a kitchen and terrace.

An hour north of Melbourne, Elemental House is completely self-sufficient, generating its own power through solar panels and capturing rainwater for household use. Designed to complement the landscape and endure the area's harsh winds and heat, the property is contemporary in form, with stylish wood cladding, overhanging eaves and wide expanses of glass.

Dark and moody, the sleek interior features a blackened concrete floor and a timber ceiling, with materials left raw and exposed. The open-plan living, kitchen and dining area faces east and looks out across stunning views of the surrounding valley, while a window seat, tucked away in the corner, allows dizzying views over the steep precipice below.

This simple yet dramatic dark kitchen is decked out with concrete worktops and cabinetry made of spotted gum timber. The exterior of the house is also made from spotted gum, which needs little maintenance and is resilient enough to meet bushfire requirements.

The one-bedroom house, designed by Ben Callery Architects, provides a peaceful retreat within easy reach of the city and owes its awe-inspiring views to its location on top of a steep hill. To the north and south of the property there are large open decks, plus a separate building housing a carport and solar equipment.

A distinctive three-bedroom dwelling in the small town of Fish Creek, two hours southeast of Melbourne, this off-grid property uses dark corrugated cladding and timber to blend in with its dense wooded surroundings.

Love this? Escape the rat race with these amazing woodland homes.

The property makes the most of the natural elements, utilising them to provide heating, ventilation and light. The living area is cooled by summer breezes through the carefully-positioned windows and sliding glass doors, while a pergola and awnings shield the interior from the harsh Australian sun.

Inside, the interior design takes its inspiration from the landscape. This kitchen uses matte black units and copper to dramatic effect, while natural wood floors and green walls echo the shades of the forest outside.

The prefabricated building, designed by Archiblox, uses carbon-neutral materials. A wood-burning stove acts as the main source of heat in the home, while outside there’s a secluded deck with a bath fed by rainwater with views of the rolling fields.

This striking brutalist home just outside Barcelona is encased in a concrete slab. Far from just a dramatic design statement, this dense cladding keeps it cool in the summer, with geothermal energy from the ground heating the home in the cooler months.

Sunlight floods into the open-plan living space on the ground floor, which uses as much glass as possible to maximise the views of the village of Montseny and the verdant garden at the back of the house. When it comes to energy, the entire house is powered by an array of solar panels on the roof.

Minimalist and modern, the sleek white kitchen reflects the crisp clean lines of the property's exterior facade. The daring house, designed by architect Rob Dubois, can also be warmed by under-floor heating powered by a heat pump.

Big on brutalist architecture? Step inside these incredible concrete houses.

The bedrooms are located upstairs and shaded by the overhang of the concrete slab to prevent overheating in the summer months. Nestled in the manicured garden is a refreshing lap pool to cool down in. Cleverly, rainwater captured from the roof is recycled and used to water the grounds.

Boasting fabulous views of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding mountains, this lavish home in the city of Henderson, just 16 miles from the gambling capital, is on the market for £2.8 million ($3.5m). Running costs are non-existent, as the property generates its own electricity from solar panels, with enough left over to charge four electric cars.

With in-built smart home technology, the spacious open-plan living and kitchen area has a fireplace to keep you cosy on chilly desert evenings, plus there’s even a home theatre and wine cellar, giving you everything you need to entertain guests.

There are five bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, including this one with dramatic mountain views. A glass elevator takes you between the three floors and the site is protected from other homes being built above or below it, maintaining privacy and preserving those stunning views.

With an outlook across the mountains, this inviting pool is the home's pièce de résistance. Complete with a waterfall, Jacuzzi, wet bar and outdoor kitchen, you've got everything you could need for alfresco parties in the summer. If that wasn't enough, the property also has a basketball court and a 24-hour security system.

Perched on a hill, this beautiful home in the province of Cáceres in western Spain started life as a derelict stable. While this characterful home has undergone an extensive rebuild and renovation, it retains a traditional rustic style which is skillfully incorporated with off-grid technology.

Love this? These beautiful barns have been transformed into dream homes.

As the property is far away from a water supply and the electric grid, it generates its own power using a combination of photovoltaic solar panels and hydropower. Designed by Ábaton architecture studio, the house faces south to make full use of the sun’s warmth in winter and ensure the panels can generate enough electricity.

Inside, the chic streamlined scheme features light wood and stone, referencing the heritage materials of the structure which have been reworked for modern living. Above the spacious central lounge, three bedrooms have been created where the haylofts once were, while a further two bedrooms lie at the rear of the property.

Picture windows frame the views of the landscape and large barn-style doors open up the interior spaces to the rural landscape. Two pure streams supply the property with drinking and bathing water, as well as filling the swimming pool and stone water fountain. We can't think of anywhere we'd rather escape to...

Situated in 85 acres of rolling land, this fabulous modern home is currently on the market for £8.7 million ($11m). Its bold, futuristic design was inspired by the Garden of Cosmic Speculation – a sculpture park in southwest Scotland. Thanks to geothermal and solar systems, the home runs completely off-grid.

Featuring six bedrooms, including three in a separate guest house, the home's curvaceous custom-made furnishings reflect the unusual exterior architecture. The living room even has an oval fireplace, while the kitchen features a curved island in a stylish dark wood finish.

The bathroom is similarly styled, with a round illuminated mirror, a circulation shower enclosure and an oval freestanding bath where you can admire stunning views of the garden while you soak.

In the grounds, you'll find sustainable gardens and a tranquil saltwater pool. The property has its own archery range, helipad and vineyard, so there's no shortage of ways to while away your time. With acres of surrounding land, there's also plenty of development potential too. Living off-grid never looked so good!

Loved this? Meet the family who live for free in their self-sufficient biodome.