Autonomous building

An autonomous building is designed to operate independently of the electric grid, gas grid, municipal water supply, sewage treatment, storm drains, communication networks and, in some cases, public roads. Rather than drawing on these public utility systems, it generates and manages its own power, water and waste on site, and the concept is discussed almost entirely in the context of housing, where it is usually called the autonomous house. Advocates point to reduced environmental impact, greater security and lower long term ownership costs, and to the building's ability to keep functioning for its occupants when the surrounding public infrastructure fails, although some of the cited benefits belong to green building generally rather than to independence from infrastructure specifically.