Discover how homes around the world are getting smaller and greener

I admit that I used to be jealous of the 20 room mansions that I would see on MTV Cribs. Watching Mariah Carey go through a closet that was the size of the house I grew up in, and seeing basketball stars shoot hoops in back yards that were big enough to house a community of homeless Baltimoreans, often made me want to upsize my current dwelling.

But when I actually got past the awe of seeing a house with so many rooms, I came back to reality and thought of questions like: “How much is the electric bill in a house that size?” and “Do people really need a house THAT big?” Okay, maybe the celebrities can afford to live in the lap of luxury, but average Joes like us need to count every penny we spend, and if we also care about protecting the planet then we need to find ways to live in a sustainable and affordably attainable home.

Photo courtesy of tinyhousedesign

So I did some research and found out that “shrinking green homes” are becoming a hip trend around the world. More people are realizing that downsizing their living space leads to an upsizing of their happiness, both personally and environmentally.

Here are 10 sustainably small homes that make mega “cribs” look like a huge waste of space:

1. Modern Hobbit House: A Tiny Cob Home
This “cob” house is made from a simple mix of clay and straw, and takes up less than 150 square feet! The building is energy efficient because it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and it is also fire resistant. This video features Margaret Krome-Lukens talking about the cob home that her and other interns at North Carolina's Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute are building:

2. Tiny Green Cabins
According to the Tiny Green Cabins website, “Tiny Green Cabins attention is focused on objects and spaces that are eco-friendly, multi-purpose, modular, and/or interactive. We believe that good design balances substance with style.” These cabins, which range in size from 65 square feet to 250 square feet, are made from recycled and reclaimed material, and include solar panels and shredded denim insulation! Here’s the Wildflower design:

3. Alan Chu and Cristiano Kato’s Box House
Located in beautiful São Paul, Brazil, this 36 square meter home is the perfect place to live for ocean enthusiasts. It was designed by Brazilian architects Alan Chu and Cristiano Kato, who created it as a home for a local caretaker. It’s made from reclaimed wood and other waste material from the building’s own construction, and is literally built into the size of a rocky mountain that overlooks the sea.

Check out the entire Casa Box photo stream on Flickr

4. Stuck in Vermont: Tiny Houses
This awesome video that features tiny house builder Peter King was created by Seven Days, Vermont’s alternative weekly news magazine.

5. Push Button House
The Push Button House was designed by illy, a company that sells high quality coffee, and artist/architect Adam Kalkin. It’s a 5-bedroom home built inside an industrial shipping container…and it actually opens at the push of a button!

6. GreenPod Homes
GreenPods are customized, modular units created by GreenPod Development LLC, a Washington-based company that designs energy efficient and sustainable homes. These “pods” range in size from 300 to 800 square feet and each feature a “low air infiltration design, aluminum clad wood windows, energy-saving appliances, and LED lighting.” You even have the option of including greywater recycling, rain water storage and roof gardens!

After seeing these cool green homes I’m totally not jealous of Brangelina’s pad or Britney’s estates. I’d much rather live sensibly and sustainably!