Something
that the Europeans have been doing for decades has finally made its way over
the Atlantic Ocean to North America: the trend is called micro housing, and
it's turned into an entirely new way of living. With micro housing, we're
beginning to do away with oversize condos and even detached homes, learning to
live in a more minimalistic manner and curbing our hoarding habits for good.
The affordability of micro housing is making it possible even for young adults
and students to purchase their homes in the city centers across North America.
But one must ask, is the micro housing trend good for the globe too?
Sustainability Of Micro
Condominiums
Being
able to pack a higher number of salable units into one building and lowering
the prices to widen the market and encourage young buyers to purchase instead
of rent is certainly economically beneficial; but is this trend sustainable and
beneficial for the planet too? As it turns out, the cost of building a
micro-apartment structure over a regular sized one has a much lighter footprint
on our earth. Micro-housing is a sustainable part of urban design because it is
made to be a contributing asset to compact cities across North America,
requiring less infrastructure cost, fewer resources, and a smaller environmental
impact from shipping to construction to ongoing management and maintenance.
Some micro-buildings even have shared areas like kitchens and lounges; this
helps to cut back on building costs even further and lessens air pollution from
shipping.
Micro Homes: Are They Green?
Though
micro detached homes are also on the rise, they have run into problems with
bylaws in certain cities across North America. They may just be the way of the
future, though, with the real estate prices in many areas growing out of
control. These micro homes are similar to the micro condominium units in their
petite sizes, however they typically do not have a standard foundation, instead
resting on screw piles that are attached to the ground. These easy-to-assemble
micro homes, though perhaps battling with particular municipalities and their
bylaws, offer practical housing that is sustainable too. Green features of
these micro homes include the additional options of a composting toilet, solar
power energy systems, grey water treatment system and a rainwater collection
system.
The Lifestyle Of The
Micro-Housing Trend
Another
factor that should be taken into consideration when looking at the
sustainability of the micro-housing trend in the kind of lifestyle it is
promoting. Generally situated in the dense city centers, micro housing
encourages a lifestyle that is affordable, thereby attracting residents who
will take public transit or be within walking distance to work or school, and
lessening the need for the daily use of a vehicle.
Perhaps
we're looking a little too enthusiastically at the future, but as it seems, the
micro housing trend is bringing with it all kinds of benefits, both
economically and sustainably. A lifestyle and housing solution that finally
benefits the planet is always accepted among our modern cities across North
America, and soon it may just be the reason to purchase instead of rent,
allowing us to walk instead of drive. For more information on the micro housing
trend in your area, call your trusted real estate advisor today, and get in the
know!
Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com
Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com
-Jeff
Cook
Jeff
Cook Real Estate
Charleston,
SC
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