Tiny Houses

There is a lot of talk these days about reducing our "carbon footprint" in a wide variety of ways. The idea is that by each of us taking steps to save energy, waste less, buy local and more fewer fossil fuels will be used up, whose use adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, which in turn adds to man-made global warming.

Adding insulation to your home, using solar energy and wind power, driving less and pedaling more are all simple things we can do on a daily basis without greatly affecting the ways we've come accustomed to living.

Some people, however, are taking this REALLY seriously and are reassessing their priorities entirely, selling their homes and joining the Small House Movement. In terms of this discussion, a small house really small, from 65 to 500 square feet in size. Oftentimes, these are placed on wheels and are entirely off the electrical grid. A self-described voice for the movement is the Small House Society whose mission is to "support the research, development, and use of smaller living spaces that foster sustainable living for individuals, families, and communities worldwide."

Here's an excellent video from PBS which explores this idea with another Tiny House champion, Dee Williams, of Olympia, Washington.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Could you live in a tiny house? What would be the hardest thing to give up? What might you enjoy the most about paring life down to the basic essentials?