A self-contained building is a building designed to be operated independently of supporting service infrastructure, such as the grid electric power grid, gas grid, municipal water systems, wastewater treatment systems, storm drains, communication services and, in some cases, public roads.

Self-contained building advocates describe advantages that include reduced environmental impacts, increased safety and lower costs of ownership. Some advantages cited satisfy green building principles, non-independence per se. Off-grid buildings often rely very little on civil services and are therefore safer and more comfortable during a civil disaster or military attacks. (Off-grid buildings do not lose electricity or water if public supplies are compromised for any reason.)

Most of the research and published articles related to autonomous buildings focus on residential housing.

British architects Brenda and Robert Vale have said that, as of 2002,.

• For administrators:

An intelligent building provides its administrators with a set of facilities for its maintenance, as well as for communication inside and outside the building, allowing efficient and economical control, surveillance, fire safety, monitoring, alarm system (notification to the occupants inside the building, to the police, firefighters and hospitals).

-For users:

An intelligent building offers its users, in their workplace, a safe environment, ergonomically designed and based on people ("People Oriented") to increase their productivity and stimulate their creativity. It also provides sophisticated computing and telecommunications services. In hotels and residences you must provide an environment that is comfortable and "more human", thus avoiding cold and impersonal environments.

For both cases Administrators and Users.

It could be said that the disadvantages are really few compared to the advantages but the following can be mentioned:

-The price is still too high.