Solar Power For Homes

Homes are shrinking in America. After doubling in size during the last 50 years to over twice that of European homes, the national average house size dropped for the first time in nearly 15 years (by 9%, the size of one average room).

The smaller house movement afoot in the United States can take many forms, from houses the size of a walk-in closet to several thousand square-foot family houses.

On the far end of the spectrum are the so-called tiny houses. Also called wee homes, mini dwellings, or micro-homes, the definition is not exact, but they run as small as 65 square feet. And yes, people really live in them. Why? Reasons range from economic to environmental to psychological.

Even families are taking a page from the micro-homes.  While a family of four may not choose to live in a walk-in closet, there are all sorts of beautiful homes with footprints well under the 2,000 square-foot average.  And with the size of the U.S. household shrinking, smaller houses make even more sense (the U.S. fertility rate shrank from an average of 3.5 children in 1960 to 2.1 children in 2006)¹. 

Below, you’ll find some great houses which maximize common space but still carve out cozy bedroom nooks for a family.

A cottage for one or two

While living in only a couple hundred square feet may seem near impossible, you’ll find these examples don’t skimp on many modern luxuries.

For the family looking to downsize

The tiny Beach Chalet measures 388 square feet and was designed
by London’s Nina Tolstrup.  It offers a small family two separate
sleeping quarters and a light and airy common area.

For a traditional-looking home with more private sleeping quarters,
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company offers two to three bedroom houses
ranging from 743 to 837 square feet.

David Sarti’s 800-square-foot home was designed to accommodate
two large bedrooms upstairs and huge windows for
plenty of light and ventilation.

Rocio Romero offers high-end ‘mansion’ living in less than the
average American home footprint.  The LVL model is 1,453 square feet and
packs in a spacious living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms,
two bathrooms, and closets. LVL homes start at $42,000.

Shrinking Environmental Homes In America News

Aug

24

The recovery is losing steam, fast - Washington Post (blog)

2010-08-24

The recovery is losing steam, fastWashington Post (blog)America is dealing with unprecedented incompetence not witnessed during the Great depression. The economic team at the White House is simply observing the ...and more »

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04

Open Thread - Washington Post (blog)

2010-09-04

Open ThreadWashington Post (blog)The shrinking of the money supply by a third or more, the decision of the Fed to allow massive bank failures, and tariffs allow pushed the economy into the ...

Aug

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Inflation or Deflation - There's Money to Be Made - Seeking Alpha (blog)

2010-08-27

Inflation or Deflation - There's Money to Be MadeSeeking Alpha (blog)Of course in this environment, controlling your inventory simply means building fewer houses. In addition to building fewer houses, it looks like they are ...and more »

Aug

17

Wildlife corridor proposed across Highway 101 in Coyote Valley. - San Jose Mercury News

2010-08-17

Wildlife corridor proposed across Highway 101 in Coyote Valley.San Jose Mercury News"People often worry about global environmental issues, such as the destruction of habitats in South America and Africa," said Craige Edgerton, a graduate of ...and more »

Aug

26

Cold Comfort - OnEarth Magazine

2010-08-26

OnEarth MagazineCold ComfortOnEarth MagazineMore recently, residents of America's Deep South kept their homes airy with vaulted ceilings, spacious front rooms, wraparound porches, and picture windows. ...