There may soon be houseboats or floating homes that can create their own heat, electricity and even water, according to a recent Gizmag article. Houseboats are not a new thing in Europe, where a lack of housing causes many to be creative with where they live. Even though the idea may be popular one in these areas, water and power hook-ups are not so common.

According to Gizmag, to help with this, the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems and partners are working on a new floating home at Lake Geierswalde in Germany, scheduled to be done in 2017.

To help with the boat's water supply, a closed loop system is being created "based on ceramics, photocatalysis, electrochemistry and filtration that can be fitted into a small area".

Read the Gizmag article for more information on this floating home.