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When the snow comes down in the Black Forest of Colorado Springs, designer and Airbnb host Arianna Danielson doesn’t stress about turning on the fireplace in her rental—the space can stay around 70 degrees all on its own. No, it’s not the Smart House from the 1999 Disney Channel movie. It’s actually an Earthship, a style of home that is built into the berm of the earth and relies largely on a combination of thermal mass, sunshine, and solar panels to stay warm, keep cool, power the appliances—everything. Danielson and her family acquired the unique property, which was originally constructed between 1994 and 2000, six months ago, and after making some much-needed repairs to the water and electrical systems, recently listed the place on Airbnb. Danielson’s passive house isn’t the only of its kind that’s available to rent on the platform. The company recently shared its most wish-listed earth homes of 2023 so far, and the winners are…
Airbnb’s Most Wish-Listed Earth Homes of 2023
- Unique Dome Glamping by Natural Pool & Beaches (San Isidro, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica)
- Wee Nook–A Hobbit Hole (McEwen, Tennessee, USA)
- Eco Dome on the Mountain (El Oro de Hidalgo, Estado de México, Mexico)
- Earth Shelter/Cave Home With Pool & Rooftop Garden (Murbad, Maharashtra, India)
- Aldea Read Tapalpa (Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico)
Calling all current and wannabe Airbnbs hosts: You don’t have to own an earth home to make your rental more sustainable. Below, Danielson shares her top tips for implementing environmentally conscious practices into your hosting.
Decant Bathroom Products
You won’t find little travel shampoo bottles and tiny soap bars wrapped in paper in Danielson’s bathroom. “I have everything in large glass bottles that I can refill,” she notes.
Keep Plants Hydrated With Recycled Water
Plants line the long wall of windows in Danielson’s home, and they’re all thriving thanks to her gray water system, which recycles H2O from the shower, kitchen, laundry machines, etc. and uses it to irrigate the plants. The system funnels into a drip that is connected to the planters so she barely has to lift a finger. “We just make sure that our detergents are superclean so there aren’t any chemicals making their way into the plants,” she shares.
Leave a Mindful Note in Your Guidebook
In her house manual, Danielson encourages guests to turn the lights off when they leave a space, unplug items when not in use, and keep their shower/tub–soaking time to a minimum. “We have this amazing tub that went viral on TikTok and I want people to take baths. I love that for you. But if there are six guests, not everyone needs to be taking a bath every single day,” says Danielson.
Decorate With Secondhand Furniture
Almost all the furniture and decor in Danielson’s rental is thrifted, including her driftwood coffee table, radio, and rugs. “There’s a misconception that off-the-grid and self-sustaining houses have to be this ugly, dated shack,” she says. “But you can be eco-conscious and have a beautiful aesthetic.”
