Ecocapsule: Twenty-first century Airstream

The beautifully elegant Ecocapsule is the spiritual successor of the Airstream trailer – a streamlined pod that takes off-grid living to a new height of luxury.

The environmentally friendly eco-pods allow two people to live self-sufficiently for up to two years. Powered by solar panels and a wind turbine, the small egg-shaped dwellings capture, filter and store rainwater. The interior design squeezes a tiny kitchenette, loo and shower within the pad’s 4.45 m × 2.25 m footprint.

The shape of the Ecocapsule is designed to optimise the collection of rainwater while at the same time minimizing thermal loss. The loo is waterless, composting and separating. The second generation Ecocapsule units will feature an incineration toilet.

50 Ecocapsules are on sale now with a further batch available for general sale in 2017.

Ecocapsule sometime caravan

The Ecocapsule has 4 small extendable wheels to allow it to be rolled on smooth surfaces, although it does not require built foundations. It also has hooks on its roof so it can be lifted using a crane or forklift. A trailer accessory that allows the Ecocapsule to be towed behind a car will be available from next year.

The irony is that while the Ecocapsule promotes living off-grid, there are very few people with the financial means to buy one without turning to the banking system - the purchase price is expected to drop as production increases, but the first generation Ecocapsule is priced at EUR 79,000 excluding VAT.

Off-grid on a budget

Escaping the rat race to discover the pleasures of local produce, simple regional cuisine and a slower pace of life doesn't require you to invest in an Ecocapsule. The popularity of glamping means there's an increasing range of alternative overnight stops – from converted lorries to tree houses.

Sawday's is a family-run travel business that specialises in environmentally-friendly holidays. It's Canopy & Stars website specialises in unusual alternatives to conventional camping such as treehouses, yurts and caravans.

While eco-aware travellers have the opportunity to offset the emissions from air travel, staying at home means the carbon footprint attributable to long-haul air travel is bypassed entirely. And with one return flight from London to California creating a warming effect equivalent to 3 tons of carbon dioxide per person (roughly one third of the annual carbon footprint of the average European), the environmental savings can be significant.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.

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