Campers are popping up as additional living spaces in the backyards of American homes. While it may not be uncommon to see a recreational vehicle or travel trailer "dry-docked" on private property, the digital age has ushered in a modern non-traveling twist that utilizes the space to add square footage to a homeowner's property for a guest bedroom, home office or man cave, says Jay Cullis, spokesman for Airstream, based in Jackson Center, Ohio.

"We're finding that people who buy Airstream trailers are finding all kinds of uses for them, beyond going on vacation," Cullis says. "As long as people have a Wi-Fi connection and the creature comforts of home, folks are exercising their freedom to use their Airstreams in unique ways."

The iconic Airstream trailer -- with its streamlined riveted aluminum exterior -- has been touted as a home for the road since 1931, and has become emblematic of American-style travel. With trailers that are efficiently outfitted with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, owners can use these spaces as getaways without traveling anywhere.

When not on the road, campers and trailers are pulling double duty and being used as:

-- A home office, creating a space that is both productive and professional, including easy commutes to and from the backyard.

-- A man or mom cave, which can serve as either a place for social interactions or a space to work on projects in solitude.

-- A teen hangout, which creates a drama-free scene in your home by allowing a special space for young adults to watch movies, play computer or video games and stay during sleepovers.

-- A guest suite is sweet for visiting friends and family, with enough space and privacy to accommodate loved ones.

"This generation is trading stuff for experiences, and silver bullet Airstreams attract those who appreciate midcentury modernism," Cullis says. "In an era of digital nomadic jobs, it's less about where your office is and more about how you office."

Kris Kircus owns nearly two acres of land surrounding her home, located outside Austin, Texas. Two years ago, Kircus bought an Airstream trailer, which she has nicknamed "Vie," the French word for "life." When not on the road, Vie is parked in the Kircus' backyard and is easily accessed by traversing a stone walkway from her home.

"I am a full-time teleworker, and while one of the advantages of working from home is that you don't have to get out of your yoga clothes, there are about 10,000 interruptions a day inside my house," she says. "Now, I walk the stone path from my backdoor to Vie and can focus on my work."

Kircus enjoys a change of scenery, whether she's traveling in Vie or it's parked on a crushed granite pad in her backyard. "Having Vie is a part of my lifestyle, and I love having the extra space without having to get building permits to remodel my home," she says. "The beauty is that I can hitch up Vie and drive to a state park for a long weekend, and still seamlessly have both work and play without missing a beat."

While an Airstream trailer ranges in price from about $37,000 to $150,000, it's important to check local codes within a municipality and/or homeowner's association before making plans to semipermanently park one in the backyard.

A trailer needs to be parked on a level and relatively dry spot, where rainwater won't collect. Also, an Airstream needs either 30- or 50-amp electrical service and both water and septic hookups to fully pitch camp, Cullis says.

Kircus has power, water and septic hookups in place for Vie, with a Wi-Fi extender in her home to boost the signal to her trailer for work and her son's video gaming activities with friends. "Visiting family and friends request to stay in Vie," Kircus says. "The trailer is also known by our neighbors as 'The Shiny Bar,' and it's become a place where people gather to socialize."

Amber Ehrlich of Phoenix, Arizona, has transformed her 2017 Flying Cloud Airstream trailer -- dubbed "Zoe" -- into a short-term rental unit. Parked in the backyard of Ehrlich's 1935 bungalow in Phoenix's Coronado Historic District, the "Zoe" experience features amenities both inside and outside the trailer.

Surrounded by a private backyard oasis with a fire pit and pool, Zoe houses a queen-size bed, working kitchen with dinette seating, bathroom and shower.

"Most of the properties in our neighborhood have guest houses," Ehrlich, a professional organizer, says. "Instead of building a structure in our backyard, Zoe can roll in and roll out."

Ehrlich has dedicated power, water and septic hookups for her trailer, which is especially important, since it is used regularly as a rental. Maintaining positive relationships with neighbors is essential to the success of Ehrlich's enterprise.

"There's something about the romance of camping in the backyard, and Zoe transforms the experience into 'glamping,' (glamour camping)," Ehrlich says. "I believe buying this trailer was a smart investment, as Airstreams tend to hold their value."

There are clubs and online forums dedicated to rehabbing old campers and trailers, Cullis says. "It's part nostalgia, but some might also think it's American enterprise," he says. "Not only do people have a sense of adventure when they buy an Airstream for the road, they also embrace its different uses when it's off-road."

Ehrlich says her dream is to someday live in her Airstream and rent out her house. "As decluttering is part of my career and lifestyle, you realize you don't need much to live a life full of joy," she says. "Having Zoe is part of a lifestyle that is very freeing and fun."

Park It

For more information on Airstream trailers, visit Airstream.com or call 877-596-6111.

To rent Ehrlich's "Zoe," contact her through TheTidyBungalow.com or Facebook message at Bungalow35.

More homeowners are creating a solar flair by installing sunlight-capturing panels or shingles on their homes. Powered by photovoltaic cells, the future for solar energy has never been brighter, says Dan Whitten, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) spokesperson, based in Washington, D.C.

"The case for solar has become increasingly strong as the United States' energy system has evolved," he says. "Solar energy is becoming more efficient to deliver, with fuel from the sun that is free, renewable and sustainable."

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have tried to harness the energy of the sun to warm their homes. But it wasn't until the 1970s -- through the technological development of photovoltaic cells fabricated into panels -- that solar energy began its modern residential ascension.

Photovoltaic (PV) or solar cells convert sunlight (or photons) directly into electricity (or voltage) that can be used as power. PV cells were initially manufactured using silicon (found in sand) after scientists discovered that the element released an electrical charge when exposed to sunlight.

"Today's solar energy isn't your grandparents' solar panels from the '70s. The last three years have seen tremendous growth in residential solar energy, thanks to technological advances," Whitten says. "In 2016, according to our data, 1 million solar units had been installed in the United States. In 2018, that number jumped to 1.7 million."

In 2020, every new construction project of single family homes in California will be required to have solar units built onto roofs. And while California is the first state to pass this mandate, it won't be the last to do so, says Jim Turner, spokesperson for RGS Energy, a Real Goods Solar Company, based in Denver. RGS Energy was one of the first solar panel installers in 1978 and, to date, has installed more than 25,000 solar power systems across the country.

"In 40 years, we've seen the cost of solar energy fall from $100 to $4 per kilowatt," Turner says. "The technology is such that solar modules have not only gotten smaller, but more efficient."

Solar panels that are rack-mounted are still the most prevalent way to capture solar energy. Panels may be ground-, rooftop- or wall-mounted, with a fixed mount or adjustable mount fitted with a solar tracker to follow the sun across the sky.

Nearly 10 years ago, Dow Chemical Company developed the first viable solar shingle system, called the Powerhouse. A solar shingle system is intermingled with conventional roofing materials and designed to combine the performance and protection of a conventional asphalt roof with an integrated photovoltaic system that powers the home.

RGS Energy has entered into an exclusive agreement with Dow to lead all commercial activities for the Powerhouse shingle system, including supply chain management, installation and warranty responsibilities. The third generation of Powerhouse shingles is expected to hit the market later in 2018, and Turner says it is a cost-effective option only with new roofing projects.

"Panels have become less clunky and have lower-profile rails, but some people want the seamless look that a solar shingle can provide," he says. "The more technical part of a solar power system is the efficiency with which the solar energy is converted into electricity."

Solar cells generate direct current (DC), giving off an electrical charge that flows in one direction into an inverter. The inverter converts the solar DC power into alternating current (AC), which is the prevalent electrical system used within homes.

A net energy meter keeps track of the all the power a home's solar system produces. Any solar energy not used simultaneously with production goes back into the electrical grid through the meter. When a home's solar power system is producing less than a user's needs, the home will consume electricity from the grid as normal. A home's utility bill will reflect the net consumption and provide a credit for any excess solar energy generated and not used during a given period.

But solar power systems don't always have their day in the sun and are reliant on exposure to direct sunlight, Whitten says. "Installing a solar power system in a home is as individual as the homeowner itself," he says. "Begin discussions with a reputable solar power system installer, and the company can tell you if your home is a good candidate for collecting solar energy and pricing."

When consulting a local, reputable solar company, consider the following:

-- Location, location, location. Check to see if your home is a good candidate for a solar energy system. Homeowners associations and local governments might also have restrictions about the types of solar power systems allowed. An unobstructed, sunny southern exposure yields high solar energy output.

-- Maintenance. Solar cell modules generally come with an industry-standard 20-year warranty, which guarantees panels will produce at least 80 percent of the rated power after 20 years of use. Ongoing maintenance includes keeping solar modules free of debris and snow.

-- Cost and incentives. Contact a reputable solar installer for a cost analysis to determine whether to lease or buy solar panels or solar shingles for your home. Factors are determined by weather, how a home is situated on a property and the amount of energy a household uses. Check into local and federal tax incentives available to homeowners that install solar power systems.

Advances in solar power technology and increased manufacturing scale have reduced costs, increased reliability and created greater efficiency of photovoltaic installations, Whitten says. "There are visionaries in the solar industry that dream of the day when our homes and automobiles will all be powered by the sun with zero emissions into the atmosphere," he says. "The share of solar energy is only going to grow with time."

A Place in the Sun

-- SEIA.org: Scroll to the Solar Energy Industries Association's "Where It's Happening" section and click "Explore the Map" for a list of reputable solar companies and statistics in your state.

-- RGSEnergy.com: Click "Solar Pricing" to receive a quote on solar power system options for your home.

Outdoor living areas can have it made in the shade through the use of canopies or awnings. Outdoor areas can be up to 15 degrees cooler when protected from the direct rays of the sun, says Ross Lederer, spokesman for Craft-Bilt Manufacturing Company, based outside of Philadelphia, and maker of patio covers and enclosures.

"Covering a patio or deck with an awning or canopy can have a cocooning feel," he says. "Even though a patio or deck may not, technically, be a room outside your home, it can feel like one when it's covered."

Some may choose to cover an existing patio by building a permanent sunroom, which is a free-standing structure that often has glass walls and is attached to a home with a separate roofline. But for those who don't take a shine to extra building expenses, semi-permanent awnings, shade sails and canopies can be a way to throw some shade on construction costs.

A desire for shaded living areas outside a residence may have been around since there have been rock outcroppings over cave dwellings, but today's patio and pool coverings are both sleek and smart. "Today's patio cover options aren't your grandparents' canvas coverings," Lederer says. "Many times, patio coverings have retractable options with motorized screens that use fade-resistant fabrics."

During the mid-20th-century suburban boom, people began retreating from the front porch to the backyard. Entertaining on the patio and into the backyard became part of a lifestyle that is still popular today.

The patio is a concrete or paved area that is usually located in a home's backyard. While wooden decks tend to feel more like an extension of a house, a patio integrates more with the landscape, because it is built directly on the ground. Custom-built patios have evolved from mere concrete slabs into sophisticated outdoor rooms with retractable overhead options that allow a homeowner to choose when outdoor areas should have a shady or sunny disposition.

Awnings

These shade structures have a framework -- covered with a specially designed outdoor fabric -- that attaches to the home and extends over a doorway, deck or patio.

While older, wall-mounted-only awnings can have a limited shading scope, manufacturers such as Craft-Bilt have devised hybrid awnings that have a room-sized framework, which includes front legs to stabilize the structure over a patio or deck.

"The top of the awning can be retractable, which will preserve the life of the fabric," Lederer says. "The shade is set on a roller tube, which unrolls at the touch of a button. When you're ready to go inside, the awning easily rolls back up into its housing, which is mounted on the house."

Canopies

For stand-alone structures that seek shade, fabric canopies are a sunny selection. Pergolas are popular outdoor structures with columns that support an often open-roof grid of beams and are an ideal canopy companion.

"A canopy mounted under a pergola saves people from looking like a checkerboard, should they fall asleep with the sun shining through the upper latticework," Lederer says. "Canopies can also be installed to retract or have a Roman shade design that mounts under a structure."

Canopies can be fitted with built-in side curtains, which can add an element of privacy, as well as protection from the sun. A canopied structure can also offer more height clearance than a conventional awning.

Shade Sails

Based on ancient ways of using ship sails to shade outdoor areas or sailors in encampments, today's shade sails are a contemporary red-hot way of providing sun protection. Using modern tensile fabrics, shade sails are stretched between several anchor points to create cool covers, says Matthew Dickerson, owner of decade-old Tenshon, based in Mesa, Arizona.

"The idea of using shade sails as a way to cover outdoor areas at home really began taking off when people started to see these in public areas," Dickerson says. "Not only do people recognize that it is cooler under a sail shaded area, they also enjoy its aesthetic."

Instead of having to erect a large structure to shade a pool or patio, Dickerson says shade can be geometrically achieved by using strategically placed poles or anchor points onto which the edge of each shade sail is fastened. When pulled taut, these membranes become hyperbolic arcs soaring above areas that cast shadows and comfort below.

With the installation of a pool or patio cover, it is essential to not only compute the space to be shaded, but to also take into account the time of year and time of day the area will be used most often, Dickerson says.

"The sun is always moving across the sky -- not only from sunrise to sunset -- but also across the horizon with the seasons," he says. "When erecting an outdoor cover, you have to take into account how shadows will change throughout the day, and also throughout the year, for the best results in terms of coverage."

No matter which type of patio or pool cover is used -- awning, canopy or shade sail -- each should be a shadowy segue from the inside to the outside of a house. But, before installation can begin, Lederer says homeowners need to do their homework and check local building codes within their municipality or homeowner's association guidelines, or both.

"Even though these covers aren't technically building a room onto a house, these structures still have to endure strong winds and snow loads in colder climates," he says. "Aluminum or wood frameworks can also be manufactured to be installed on the back of a home in a first phase of what might ultimately become an enclosed porch or sunroom."

Cover Up

For design inspiration in patio covers, go to: CraftBilt.com.

To view an entire video library of shade sail installations, go to: Tenshon.com.