This summer's extreme heat and the demand for air conditioning are putting a big strain on the electricity grid in many parts of the country.

But for more than 40 years, a pioneering architect in New Mexico has been building a unique kind of home that can be heated and

cooled without using any electricity at all. Special correspondent Megan Thompson

reports.

Five years ago empty nesters Jess and Brian Johnson decided to leave Colorado and move south to just

outside Taos, New Mexico, a place they'd loved visiting and where their dollar could go further.

This is a two bedroom, two bathroom, two thousand square foot home.

They have an open living area, a fireplace, and a sauna with views of the southern Rockies.

But the more unique features are harder to... and a sauna with views of the Southern Rockies.

But the more unique features are harder to see.

The home is off the grid, meaning it's not connected to power, water, or sewer lines.

Their water comes from snow and rain, electricity from the sun.

We're not crazy conservationists. You know, we take showers every day and run the dishwasher and the washing machine and everything.

The only way we're radical really is that we don't pay utility bills.

The Johnson's home is called an Earth ship.

There are around 200 in northern New Mexico. These are the same

drawings I made for the front face. Michael Reynolds came up with the idea as a

young architect. Ever since college I have looked at the world around me and been disturbed by it.

There's no question.

In the early 70s, Reynolds was especially disturbed by the growing garbage problem in the US

before recycling was widespread.

So I started addressing it just for myself.

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