If you believe that good things can't come in small packages, you might want to take a look at a new phenomenon blazing through the real estate market - eco homes. These homes are tiny living spaces, typically less than about 1500 square feet. What these homes lack in square footage, they make up for in efficiency and character. This type of living isn't for everyone but if you can make it work, the amount of money you can save is incredible.
Small eco homes are usually mobile, able to be towed or placed on a flatbed truck. This gives you the convenience of a mobile home or RV with the comforts of a traditional home. If you decide that you want to relocate or they build an interstate outside your window, you can just move your entire home somewhere else! Eco homes usually have a log cabin feel to them, making them a very cozy retreat away from the world. While this type of home probably won't work for a family, it can be a very viable option for a single person or even a couple who doesn't mind close quarters.
Because the main purpose of living in an eco friendly home is to lower your carbon footprint, they are built with all green materials. The homes are so small, they don't take many materials to complete and since most of them are mobile, there is no real foundation. One great thing about small green homes is the fact that they are completely customizable. When living in a home that is less than 1500 square feet, creative storage is a necessity. Your home's limits are only limited by your imagination. A lot of furniture in this type of home has more than one purpose or is collapsible.
Eco homes can pretty much be built anywhere and in any fashion the owner desires. There are eco homes built all over the world in many different terrains. Some of these homes are built floating on water, in the forest, on a mountain side or parked in a friend's backyard. There are even eco homes that are completely modular with the ability to have additions built on. They have movable walls, windows, multi-use furnishings and most eco homes use some sort of solar energy to power it.
When living in an eco home, you definitely have to live simply and efficiently. There isn't much room for excess belongings. You may also have to get creative when it comes to your electricity and your water supply. With the mobility of the homes, it can be tricky to get a permanent water source in the home. Many times you can hook up the home to a nearby pump, or have something installed when building the home. If living simply and environmentally friendly is important to you, an eco home could be your dream come true. It is quite possible to build a luxurious eco home for under $100,000. In a tough economy, an affordable home that can be taken just about anywhere is a trend that won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Keith Smallwood is the president of Creative Energy Exteriors, a leading provider of Williamsburg home improvement. Creative Energy offers products and services such as Williamsburg replacement windows and Williamsburg siding. For more information, you can find Creative Energy Exteriors online at: CreativeEnergyExteriors.com.
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