Eco-friendly travel is gradually more popular as travelers become more environmentally conscious. With so many stunning places in the US, it’s easy to see why travelers are keen to help preserve the country’s beauty and opt for green or eco-friendly travel experiences or eco-friendly cruises that have minimum impact on the surrounding environment.
According to reports, tourism accounts for a whopping eight percent of carbon emissions worldwide — so why not help the world out and stay in a green or eco-friendly vacation rental? Many property owners are kitting-out their rentals with solar panels, energy efficient features, compost toilets, organic gardens, and using locally sourced, natural materials. From rustic cabins through to sleek eco-friendly houses, here are the best eco-friendly vacation rentals in the U.S.
‘Silo Studio’ Cottage, Tyringham, Massachusetts
Who says green rental properties have to be ugly? This stunning, eco-friendly vacation rental is stylish and good for the environment. The Silo Studio is a unique round-shaped cottage with a 35-foot cone ceiling. It was once a former sculpting studio and it’s located in Tyringham, Massachusetts. The cottage is built in the style of a tree-house and it’s crafted almost entirely from wood and locally sourced materials.
Inside the cottage, you’ll find all the amnesties that you need, with a kitchenette, queen bed, coffee table, coffee maker, and bathroom. The cottage lies on four acres of gardens and woodland, and you can really feel like you’ve got off the grid and kick back surrounded by stunning natural scenery. The cottage is usually only open for bookings between March and November as the winters are notoriously cold and snowy in Massachusetts, however, the owners will consider bookings between November and March, as there’s a pellet stove to help you warm up. Wooden tree-house-like properties are some of the best eco-friendly vacation rentals out there, as many of them use barely any electricity and have minimal impact on the landscape.
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Glamping Eco-Pod, Mojave Desert, California
This incredible eco-pod is a great, environmentally-friendly option for a vacation in California. It sits in the heart of the Mojave Desert and guests can sit beneath clear, starry skies and be surrounded by 320 acres of desert. The eco-pod boasts panoramic 360-degree views.
The rental is compact and has all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay. It features a wooden exterior and has large windows, meaning it has a low impact on the surrounding land. The pods can sleep up to four guests across two bedrooms and there are also smaller one-bedroom pods, which would be perfect for a romantic weekend away with your significant other. The Mojave Desert is an excellent place to base yourself as it’s within easy driving distance to some of California’s top destinations such as Death Valley and Lake Tahoe.
Off-Grid House, Pioneer Town, California
California is one of the states with the most eco-friendly vacation rentals, and this off-the-grid house really takes the environment into consideration. The house features a stunning, modern design and uses solar panels for energy and hot water, alongside following green principles in its design and minimizing its disturbance to the natural landscape. It also features pioneering sliding doors made from Solarban 60 Glass and a ‘minimal-living interior design.’ The house is located in a stunning, remote valley in the California high desert with 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. The property owners have purposely not placed a television or WiFi connection in the house, so you can truly leave the outside world behind you.
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O2Haus, Portland, Oregon
If you want to stay in one of the most eco-friendly houses in the world, look no further than the O2Haus in Portland. You can rent a room in what has been called ‘one of the most energy-efficient homes in the world’, which is fully kitted with solar panels, boasts net-zero energy, and has been made from reclaimed shipping crates. If that’s not enough for you, the house also has a heat ventilation system, composting toilets, plus systems incorporated into the landscape for rainwater infiltration. The house was designed by sustainable architects and features a sleek, modern design. It’s as eco-friendly as it gets!
The best vacation rentals for the lowest price
Eco-Friendly Villa, New Mexico
If you want to reconnect with nature while being friendly to the environment, this stunning villa in Mora County, New Mexico, is just the place for you. It’s a three-bedroom villa that uses solar and wind power, and has huge windows to ensure the property is filled with natural sunlight. It’s a large house that can sleep up to thirteen people and it’s available to host events. From the patio, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Mora County, as the property is located at the peak of a hill. It features an earthy design and blends into the surrounding landscape.
Tree-House Cabin, Green Mountain, North Carolina
This elevated treehouse-style cabin is a great eco-friendly option located near Asheville, North Carolina. It’s a 600-square-foot cabin that can sleep up to six guests. It features a rustic, tree-house style and has been made using recycled paper products or cloth alternatives, and features solar outdoor light, non-toxic cleaning products, water-saving fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom, energy-saving windows, and a composting toilet. It certainly ticks a lot of eco-friendly boxes. The cabin is kitted out with a fully-equipped kitchen, deck, porch, and a fire pit.
Hand-Made Hut, Ephraim, Utah
This rustic hut in Ephraim, Utah, has been made entirely from sandbags and cob. The hut, which seamlessly melts into its surroundings, boasts an excellent location, surrounded by forested mountains, lakes, and valleys. The hand-made hut is eco-friendly, uses no electricity, and the showers are heated using solar power. The hut is located in a forming eco-village with residents and other tourists that are likely to hold similar views about caring for the environment. In the forming eco-village, there’s a communal camp kitchen available for the guests to use alongside a fire pit where you can relax and socialize.