# Solar-Powered Micro Homes The New 'Ecocapsule' Homes Make It Easy to Live Off the Grid By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2015-05-25 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/micro-homes References: [cnet](http://www.cnet.com/news/live-pretty-much-anywhere-on-earth-in-futuristic-ecocapsule/) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Ecocapsule.sk) The new 'Ecocapsule' micro homes are the latest innovation in contemporary [off-the-grid living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daria-sheina). Designed by the Slovakian team 'Nice Architects,' the Ecocapsule offers a portable housing solution that is efficient and comfortable enough for a wide range of living applications. The Ecocapsule is an [egg-shaped micro home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hirondelle-tiny-house) that runs entirely off of sustainable energy sources thanks to the 600 W of solar cells on its roof and the [750 W built-in wind turbine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blademade). The efficient and low-energy design helps to facilitate the household conveniences of running water and built-in plumbing. Although tiny, the home is designed for maximum utility with a folding bed, small kitchen, dining area, storage, shower and even a flushable toilet. The company suggests that because it is both portable and sustainable, the Ecocapsule is the perfect housing option for anything from a research station to an emergency shelter. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Sustainable Housing:** The trend of sustainable housing is fueling innovation in portable homes that run on renewable energy sources. - **Off-the-grid Living:** The trend of off-the-grid living is driving the development of self-sufficient micro homes that offer convenience and comfort in remote locations. - **Compact Living Solutions:** The trend of compact living solutions is inspiring the creation of innovative micro homes that maximize utility and functionality in small spaces. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry has opportunities to capitalize on the demand for solar-powered and wind-powered micro homes like the Ecocapsule. - **Home Construction:** The home construction industry can explore disruptive innovations in designing and building efficient and portable micro homes like the Ecocapsule. - **Emergency Services:** The emergency services industry can benefit from the development of portable and sustainable micro homes like the Ecocapsule for use as emergency shelters. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Next-Generation Egg-Shaped Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecocapsule-nextgen.md) - [Solar-Powered Pop-Up Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-offgrid-cabin.md) - [Sustainable Solar-Powered Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-wanda.md) - [Compact Sustainable Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cabana.md) - [Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cpsula.md) - [Turbine-Based Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blademade-1.md) - [High-Quality Electric Micro Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cosmic-one-1.md) - [Expanding Off-Grid Electric RVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-transformer-house.md) - [Off-Grid Mobile Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offgrid-mobile-home.md)