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 situated on a small island in Northern Idaho. Access to the property is limited and rough waters make it difficult to bring materials in, and they rush to get ahead of winter.

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.