How much space do you really need?
With energy bills rising, a so called recession growing and less money all round. Take a look at your home and think how much space do you really need? Do you live in a large house and only use a few of the rooms? From around the 1970s the size of homes being built has increased by up to 50 percent. Vast homes with wings, annexes and multiple rooms and bathrooms. Thankfully there is always duality, and now living on a smaller scale is coming back into vogue. Downsizing to a smaller space is not only a more modest way of life, it′s becoming a necessity. Multi function room design with combined use; home office/lounge/kitchen etc. This calls for intelligent design solutions and space planning. Indigenous people have lived in single room homes on a tiny scale for thousands of years, and live with just what they need and never more.
So what happened to us? Materialism and consumerism, both ugly traits of the modern world. The good news is that everyone has a choice. Smaller homes use less energy, non renewable resources, materials and man power to construct, use, maintain and dispose of. For the occupant that means far less utility bills, renovation costs, repairs and a more wholesome integrated lifestyle and a much healthier appetite for modern living. For the environment that means less carbon emissions overall, less material extraction, less demand for manufacture, less energy and waste during manufacture, less shipping emissions and less landfill. Here′s to small homes!
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[...] Reduce Space to Save Resources [...]