Give Up the Guilt! These Eco-Conscious Estates Are So Responsible Your Mother Would Be Proud

Innovation in green building is a flourishing industry pushed by both the non-conventional designers of the properties and the consumers who are demanding sustainability along with contemporary comforts. And because we are proponents of living a beautiful life, from our global chase to see the perfect sunset to vacationing on Billionaire Island, we have added five more international hideaways to add to your list of summer voyages; this time for the passionate environmentalists. From the big open skies of Montana to the pristine beaches in the Dominican Republic, these five diverse destinations are rivaled only by the exclusive homes built upon them.

Photo by ©DouglasHill

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THE FAMOUS MALIBU WING HOUSE | Malibu, California
This iconic Malibu home draws on the concept of recycled materials to create its sci-fi aesthetic using none other than the parts of a retired 747 Boeing airplane. Resembling a home that could easily have been a lux residence on The Jetsons, it utilizes the aluminum wings of the plane to make up the angular ceiling and the rooftop along with 4.7 million other parts repurposed to create this wildly inventive and abstract vacation home. Designed by David Hertz and imagined by the owner, Francie Rehwald, the eclectic home was fueled by the team’s environmental tendencies and admiration to create art through architecture.

Photo by ©DouglasHill

This rare chance to spend a vacation in the peaks above the weaving seaside landscape of Malibu is elevated due to the home’s architectural prowess that it took to execute an estate with such unique—and oversized—materials. Situated on 55 acres, the slender roofline sweeps above the ocean in the Santa Monica Mountains while the main house is comprised of two buildings bridged together by horizontal stabilizers from the Boeing plane. The interiors feature 18-foot-tall ceilings crafted from the left wing of the 747 while the right wing of the plane can be seen in the master bedroom and bathroom, where floor-to-ceiling glass offers views that you could never achieve looking out from the narrow window of a sky-bound aircraft.

Photo by ©DouglasHill

Fixed with a spacious layout inside made of concrete and glass, along with an integrated spiral staircase and a separate guest house, this eco friendly vacation home is prepped for entertaining. Guests will appreciate the acutely modern layout with sharp edges and monochromatic coloring. Beyond the aesthetic, lies the bones of the aircraft that tells a story of sustainability. Because the plane is considered to be 100-percent post-consumer waste, an abundance of manpower and unused material was completely avoided. Instead of using weight-bearing wooden walls, they brought in self-supporting glass to utilize the power of the sun outside to heat the indoors while keeping it cool in summer and avoiding the need for artificial light. Radiant heating and natural ventilation are other ways the home continues to reduce its carbon output for years to come.

For a vacation to remember, the Wing House caters to those seeking quiet beyond the bustle of LA and in a memorable residence that must be seen to be believed. With hammocks for daytime lounging, a 60-foot long swimming pool and an outdoor labyrinth…relaxation is easily achieved. The Wing House is available for a minimum of four nights and can accommodate up to four people that must be above the age of 12.

Photo by ThirdHome

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ECO-LODGE CHALET | Chamonix, France
Europe is one of our favorite places to visit for its flowering mountainsides and peaceful canals throughout the charming cities. And upon discovering this French chalet in the breathtaking Chamonix Valley, we are inspired to pack up for a long-term stay. The five-bedroom chalet was designed using green technology to be a completely self-sufficient residence using renewable energy systems. This harmony with nature is exactly what defines eco-friendly living without limiting any of the home’s amenities and high design. The home utilizes solar panels, which generates the electricity for the entire home making it a net-zero emissions residence. There are also LED lights, energy-efficient appliances, and geothermal heating that maintains a comfortable home year-‘round. A ventilation system utilizes the air from outside to maintain the temperature indoors, which reduces the need to artificially heat and cool the home by 70 percent

Photo by ThirdHome

Photo by ThirdHome

This eco-lodge in Chamonix has an open-plan interior with wood beams dominating the construction along with double-height ceilings and grand windows to take in the epic views. The décor takes the wooden chalet from rustic to romantic by using underfloor heating throughout and a soft white and cream color palette along with clean lines that meet the renovated wood interiors for a contemporary feel. Step outside to retreat into the on-site sauna with a glass wall to lookout to the lush hills and steep peaks beyond. Of course, no place truly feels like an eco friendly vacation home without a party-sized jacuzzi outside set beneath the jagged snow-speckled mountain ridge and views of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. Equipped for 10 guests, the chalet is available all-season round. The region is known as the birthplace of mountaineering and caters to both winter sports, summer hiking and river rafting.

Photo by ThirdHome

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VILLA PUNTO DE VISTA | Manuela Antonio, Costa Rica
It’s hard to not think of Costa Rica without taking a long inhale, for it is a place that ignites an appreciation for all things wild with a scenery that reminds us to relax and live…pura vida. Costa Rica is also a country that puts the environment at the forefront and where in some areas the cars are outnumbered by the local wildlife of sloths, monkeys and toucans, and the vibrant canopy drapes down to the white-sand beaches. Instead of hosting your next family reunion or getaway with friends at the rustic treehouses and quaint hotels so common in the region, consider this 10-bedroom glass-encased estate poised along the Pacific Ocean. Villa Punto de Vista sits on 2.5 acres near a private rainforest reserve and impeccably joins the space in the home with the eco-system outside.

Photo by ThirdHome

The home was awarded the Best Property and Best Architecture by Google/Bloomberg Television International Property Awards, validating its inventive glass-forward design and integration of environmentally conscious features. The residence uses solar energy for heating and solar panels to help run the home’s electricity as well as recycled and locally sourced materials. Sustainably harvested teak wood is used throughout the home along with rose-sandstone that was quarried in the region. Inside you will discover the use of this marble and hardwood flooring set with multiple open-living spaces splayed across the three peaks of patios resembling the bow of a yacht. Nearly every room a has a view of the verdant jungle that wraps around the home along with endless ocean views. The estate can accommodate 24 people comfortably, comes with a concierge, a beach buggy service to the Manuel Antonio beach just five minutes away, in-home spa services, and a gourmet breakfast prepared daily.

Photo by ThirdHome

Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle comes in many forms. The villa pushes its impact one step further by using recycled plastic bottles for the microfiber bedding and investing in organic bath products to keep chemicals out of the environment as well as a LEED-certified waste treatment system. The standout amenities that we are fanning over are the rooftop deck that offer ocean views as far as the eye can see, a ballroom fixed with a disco ball, a jacuzzi that jets out over the angular cornice of the home, and an outdoor movie theatre for mid-summer entertainment al fresco. The villa is available for nightly rentals throughout the year.

Puntacana Resort & Club

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PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
For vacationers who prefer an inclusive beach haven with world-class amenities like an 18-hole golf courses, a Six Senses Spa and a full-service marina, then this beachy eco-friendly haven in the Dominican Republic is all of these and more. Puntacana Resort & Club’s home rentals are an extension of the resort’s offerings that are centered around sustainability through their zero-waste program to reduce pollution of the local landfills and a wastewater treatment plan that reuses recycled water for irrigation.

Puntacana Resort & Club

The resort and real estate community at Puntacana is an expansive seaside locale in the Caribbean on the easternmost tip of the country known as the Coconut Coast. The region is known for its powdered-sugar beaches, swaying palm trees dotting the landscape and a richly bio-diverse environment. Eco-conscious travelers who want to see environmental efforts being taken far after their trip ends will be encouraged to know the preservation efforts taken through the Grupo Puntacana Foundation. Under its Center for Marine Innovation, they are reducing overfishing through reef fish nurseries and efforts to restore coral reef along with their sea turtle conservation to protect the precious marine life.

Puntacana Resort & Club

Guests who want a more spacious residence while visiting the area can get their privacy in the home rentals from one to nine-bedroom apartments and homes. They are appointed with classic and beach-inspired interiors that put the views out to the glittering waters at the forefront. Private pools, stone archways and sophisticated interior design all lends itself to a luxe retreat on the Caribbean. Beyond the private homes, you can have access to all of the resort’s plethora of amenities. Foodies will gush over the nine restaurants at the resort while wellness seekers can find their bliss at the renowned spa. Animal lovers can venture out to the apiary where a bird watching tower looks out to the local Ridgeway’s Hawk and tours of the lowland subtropical forest take guests through the protected landscape budding with wildlife.

What makes this resort’s impact even greater is the support from tourists whose visits to the properties are a contribution to keep these ecological efforts thriving.

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Photo by Peak Photography

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SILVERTIP CABIN | Big Sky, Montana
When it comes to green building, achieving a LEED-certification is one of the most celebrated titles as it is no easy feat to bridge both striking architecture and energy-efficiency into one. This modern mountain home in Big Sky, Montana has struck gold with its impressive eco-friendly design sitting 8,000 feet above sea level on Lone Peak (the heart of the local ski resort). Silvertip Cabin makes the list for our top eco-homes around the world as it demonstrates how conscientious construction and design can look as beautiful as its surroundings. Because of its sub-alpine location being on the side of the peak, the home minimizes its heat loss and actually reduces water waste inside and out while keeping it as comfortable as any five-star lodge around. The certification requires the residence to maintain a healthy living space through mitigating all soil gases along with a sophisticated irrigation system to help reduce water waste and integrating energy-efficient appliances throughout.

Photo by Peak Photography

The residence has six bedrooms and six baths and is an excellent choice for families and friends to celebrate summer in the high-altitude oasis situated in the prestigious community of Moonlight Basin. Fixed with double-height ceilings and grand windows for extensive views beyond, the residence features stone fireplaces, plush bedding in the cozy bedrooms, an amenity-clad kitchen, and a lower deck with its own hot tub for night gazing under the sky with unpolluted views of the stars. The upper deck is a host’s dream where BBQ’s are ready to be had on the spacious overhang where guests can jubilate while glancing out onto the jagged ridgeline. The cabin sleeps 14 people comfortably and is available for rental all-season round.