Top 10 Alternative Housing Ideas

by Becky Striepe
1
Modular Homes
If you like puzzles and construction, you may enjoy building a modular home from a kit.
If you like puzzles and construction, you may enjoy building a modular home from a kit.
iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Modular homes have come a long way from the types of prefab houses that you're probably familiar with. Many modular home companies are creating kit houses with a modern look and an environmental twist. Some buy the smaller kits to build guest houses or outdoor offices, but for minimalists and do-it-yourselfers, modular homes make perfect primary residences.

Eco-friendly modular homes are often smaller than traditional homes, so they use less energy to heat and cool. Also, since the pieces are all manufactured to fit together perfectly, prefab homes minimize the waste that goes along with a typical construction project.

To learn more about green construction and eco-housing options, check out the links below.

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Sources

  • Alvarado, Paula. "Guy Builds Massive House with Recycled Glass Bottles, Teaches you How to Do It." Treehugger. March 3, 2010. (Jan. 26, 2011) http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/guy-builds-massive-house-with-recycled-glass-bottles-teaches-you-how-to-do-it-video.php
  • Buczynski, Beth. "3 Surprising Ways To Build An Efficient Green House." Crisp Green. Jan. 17, 2011. (Jan. 25, 2011) http://crispgreen.com/2011/01/3-ways-to-build-an-efficient-green-house
  • Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. "Straw Bale House Construction." (Jan. 26, 2011) http://www.dancingrabbit.org/building/straw_bale.php
  • Edmonds, Molly. "How Straw Bale Houses Work." HowStuffWorks.com. March 12, 2008. (Jan. 26, 2011) https://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/straw-bale-house.htm
  • Embrey, Matt. "Recycled Pallet House - Disaster Relief Housing." July 7, 2008. (Jan. 25, 2011) http://greenupgrader.com/2387/recycled-pallet-house-disaster-relief-housing/
  • Green Building Elements. "Low Impact Living: Green Walls - Don't Stop Greening On The Roof!" Sept. 18, 2008. (Jan. 26, 2011) http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/18/638/
  • GreenHomeBuilding.com. "Cob." (Jan. 26, 2011) http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/cob.htm
  • Lawrence, Robyn Griggs. "Hemp Concrete: Promising New Green Building Material." Mother Earth News. Jan. 11, 2010. (Jan. 26, 2011) http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/natural-home-living/hemp-concrete-promising-new-green-building-material.aspx
  • Meyers, Glenn. "Modular Homes Gain in Popularity." Green Building Elements. Jan. 3, 2011. (Jan. 25, 2011) http://greenbuildingelements.com/2011/01/03/modular-homes-gain-in-popularity/
  • Tanasijevic, Jovan. "Paving, Paving Everywhere. Not a Drop Will Sink." Architecture Boston. Aug. 5, 2010. (Jan. 26, 2011) http://architectureboston.com/2010/08/05/paving-paving-everywhere-not-a-drop-will-sink/
  • Trinity Buoy Wharf. "Container City." (Feb. 4, 2011) http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/life-on-the-river/container-city.php
  • Welch, Bryan. "The Earthship." Mother Earth News. Nov. 2, 2009. (Jan. 26, 2011) http://www.motherearthnews.com/Rancho-Cappuccino/Earthships-Michael-Reynolds.aspx

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