The Iconoclast Investor

Today’s New York Times Home and Garden section has an interesting article about people choosing to live in tiny houses as opposed to the ever-expanding homes that have dominated in the last several years. These homes are not just downsized versions of the mega-mansions people were after before the housing crisis, these are homes less than 1,000 square feet or even less than 100 square feet.

They look like little dollhouses, or birdhouses, and are often perched on a trailer with no real foundation. The homes do mostly all have working bathrooms and other amenities though. The photos that accompany the article are absolutely fascinating. You get to see the sleeping lofts, little rugs for in front of the door and house styles ranging from modern to traditional.

Most people cited choosing to live in a tiny house either because they were young and eager to buy a house and this was more affordable than buying a regular house, because they want to reduce their environmental impact or because of the housing crisis. I think the tiny houses are adorable and definitely more affordable than a traditional house, one woman built hers for only $10,000, though must were a few times that much (still a bargain). But living in less than 100 square feet? That’s another story. I’m all for simplicity but I’m going to need a bit more space than that.

What I think is important to take away from all of this is that people everywhere are thinking of innovative ways to get into the Green sector as well as combat the housing crisis. If you’re interested in information on Green companies that are also growing at a rapid pace, click here.

Would you live in a tiny house or have you thoght about downsizing either to become more Green or because of the housing crisis? What are your favorite ideas in the Green sector–solar, wind or something else?