As is shown in the video showcasing Karen and Bob's home, one thing that makes it special is how they tailored it to fit Arizona's very specific climate. We're sure that made it incredibly energy efficient!

A video tour begins outside the front door where Karen and Bob explain that the home is made of cob and straw. They have experimented with different forms of plaster over the straw to help defend the home against Arizona’s unrelenting sunshine.
“We used the basic principles of solar design,” says Bob, “with south- and southeast-facing windows.”
As they enter the home, Karen is quick to mention that everything in their home — except for the new energy-efficient refrigerator they purchased to fit in with their solar system — is either used, gifted or repurposed in some way.
“We made a real effort to recycle as much as we could,” says Karen, pointing out salvaged tin, wood, sinks and furniture pieces in the colorful, inviting home.
The open floor plan and the home’s high slanted roof offer a feeling of spaciousness. The bathroom is the only separate room, with the bedroom partitioned from the main room. A small curtained area is the storage room. “We are minimalists,” Bob says. “We don’t have a lot of stuff.”
Outside, the couple displays their solar system, which, along with their septic system, comprised the major costs for the home. Six main solar panels are nearby. Another four smaller ones power the well. The slanted roof off the back of the house captures rainwater to help irrigate garden beds, trees and plants.

What do you think of this straw and cob home? Would you ever live in something like it? What do you think of going off the grid? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Article Source: Off the Grid News