We are currently living in a way that is indisputably unsustainable. The ecological resources on which modern housing depend are becoming increasingly scarce, and the excessive carbon footprint left behind by “McMansions” and sprawling suburban developments are leading more and more people to seek radically greener housing alternatives.

This is the second of a five-part series called “Off the Grid,” in which we explore environmentally-sustainable, self-sufficient communities across the globe. We’ll attempt to answer the question: Is green, off-grid living our future? This week, we take a look at an Earthship community in the deserts of New Mexico in the United States.