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The tiny house movement is a vital part of teaching people how to live sustainably. There's a documentary and a book series. There are even multiple TV shows. Clearly, the tiny house movement is a popular trend among homeowners who want to simplify their lives and reduce their environmental impact.

But are tiny houses a practical way to bring sustainable living to masses - or are they part of a fringe movement for extreme DIYers who don't mind sacrificing space for affordability?

Tiny House vs. Small House

Believe it or not, there's a difference between a tiny house and a small house. A tiny house is a very minimal living space that is typically built on wheels. Its size and mobility is intentional: building codes in most US municipalities require habitable structures to include heat, cooling, running water, and a minimum square footage of 300-plus feet.

To bypass the property taxes that go along with with larger "habitable structures," tiny homes are typically kept under 250 square feet. Also, because tiny houses are on wheels, they can function as RVs and move to areas with more liberal zoning codes.

A small house, on the other hand, runs from 250 to 1,000 square feet. It's built as a typical house and doesn't have wheels.

Are Tiny Houses Sustainable?

The tiny house movement makes homeownership possible for people who couldn't otherwise afford it. It also gets major points for sustainability. Here's why tiny homes and small homes contribute to sustainable living:

1. They reduce the need to fill your space with waste. You can't be a pack rat if you don't have anywhere to put your stuff.

2. They can use sustainable building materials. Some people have built their tiny home with salvaged material collected from dumps, neighbors, or Craigslist; others have purchased homes from companies that use recycled or sustainably-sourced materials.

3. They can be incorporated into subdivisions. Micro-apartments are already popping up in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Tiny home subdivisions can be used to revive urban spaces and declining rural communities.

4. They can be fitted for life "off the grid." Some homes have the typical amenities of a "habitable structure," like running water, flushing toilets, and electricity. Others take advantage of outdoor composting toilets, and solar panels for electricity generation.

5. They consume and waste less energy. It doesn't take much to heat or cool a living space the size of a McMansion closet.

Types Of Sustainable Tiny Homes

The Second-Hand Home

To build their own custom tiny home, Wesley Birch and his wife looked for leftover building material from Craigslist's free section, second-hand supply stores, and enthusiastic friends. In less than a year, they built a 24-foot home for $8,000!

The Colorful "Green" Cabin

Jim Wilkins founded Tiny Green Cabins in 2008. The company custom builds tiny homes using materials like recycled blue jeans, recycled steel, paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOC), and locally harvested lumber. Their Breathe Easy series avoids using flame retardants, formaldehyde, and other VOCs that are especially harmful to people with chemical sensitivities.

The Small House Of Hemp

Hemp is used to make all kinds of materials: rope, clothing, food, fuel, papers, plastics, and more. This fall, it could be used to build a tiny home! Green Built, a sustainable building company, has set up a Kickstarter campaign to build the HempHome: Tiny+, a small home that uses zero fossil fuels.

Green Built plans to construct the Tiny+ using Hempcrete, a non-toxic, concrete-like material made from a mix of hemp, lime, and water. The home will include a green roof with solar panels, efficient mechanical ventilation, and triple-glazed windows to maintain a steady inside temperature. Tiny+ will be built to meet strict green building code standards.

At 522 square feet, Green Built's Tiny+ prototype technically fits into the "small home" category, but it's a huge step toward creating an affordable liveable space for green enthusiasts.

The Tiny House For The Homeless

In August 2013, a "transitional micro-housing" pilot project was created to give 30 homeless individuals and couples a place to live. Opportunity Village Eugene is a self-governed tiny house village that includes 30 to 80 square-foot units, SunJack solar panels, and communal areas for restrooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities. To pay their rent, residents pay $30 a month in utilities and do community service.

The Off-Grid Homes

Saddled with student debt and a teaching job that would make homeownership unlikely, Rowan Kunz decided to go off the grid. She designed and built a completely sustainable home with bamboo flooring, pine board ceilings and walls, a old wood stove, and solar panels.

Jeff Hobbs' New Zealand home is also 100% self-sustaining. It's fitted with solar panels, structural insulated panels (SIPs), and a roof system to collect rainwater.

With a total cost of $77,000, Hobbs' off-grid home is a luxurious upgrade from Kunz's no-frills tiny home. But it's an example of living simply and sustainably, without having to sacrifice comfort or luxury.

The Earth-Based Cottage

These tiny homes are straight out of a storybook. In 2011, Alexander Sumerall started his company, This Cob House, to promote the use of earthen building materials - such as cob, rammed earth, and adobe - into mainstream construction techniques. Because these homes have a wood burning stove and ceiling insulation, they can stay warm in even the harshest climates.

Small Is Relative

Despite the 2008 housing crash, the average American home is still way too big. In 2014, the average single-family home was 2,453 square feet. Not only was that an all-time high for the housing market, it has more than 1,000 times more square footage than a tiny home. Imagine squeezing hundreds of housing units inside your own home!

Tiny homes are an expression of minimalism and affordability. Even if they aren't a practical option for the American mainstream, they at least represent a shift away from the wasted space and resources so prevalent in the average US household. You can even build your own tiny home for the ultimate DIY project.

Besides, tiny homes don't have to be so impractically small. Even a 1,000 to 1,500 square-foot home is a significant drop in size from a standard American home.

Would You Buy A Sustainable Tiny Home?

The end-goal of the tiny house movement isn't that we toss out our precious valuables and live a spartan existence. It's that we rethink our relationship with STUFF.

Whether you go for a tiny-ish home or just an average-sized one, the point is that you look for ways to use less of everything - space, resources, utilities, and money - to practice a sustainable lifestyle.

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Are Tiny Houses The Next Big Move Toward Sustainable Living?

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The tiny house movement is a vital part of teaching people how to live sustainably. There's a documentary and a book series. There are even multiple TV shows. Clearly, the tiny house movement is a popular trend among homeowners who want to simplify their lives and reduce their environmental impact.

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Tiny home community with cool garden space

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Tiny home community with cool garden space

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Adults in their 30s and 40s may have championed the tiny house movement, but a new demographic is reaping serious benefits from living small.

It turns out that micro-sized homes offer an appealing alternative to expensive assisted living. Bette Presley, 74, of Arroyo Grande, California, downsized from a traditional mobile home to a 166-square-foot cabin. Shirley Louiselle, 80, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, says she wouldn't need any more space than the 240-square-foot house her grandson built for her.

Companies like NextDoor Housing, Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, and Elder Cottages are hopping on the bandwagon to meet the growing senior segment's needs. DIY types can purchase floor plans from the companies for under $800, while a ready-to-move-in house could cost anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000.

Tiny houses allow aging family members to maintain their independence and their own living space, while still being near their kids and grandkids-oftentimes on the same property. They feature senior-friendly components like low cupboards and countertops, plus wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Some allow for travel, too: Both Presley's and Louiselle's homes have wheels and double as RVs.

What could this burgeoning trend mean for seniors? We're envisioning a wonderful world where grandmas live up their last years on a Golden Girls-style " bestie row."

Can't get enough? See Shirley Louiselle talking about the tiny house company her grandson John co-founded:

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The Wonderful Way Tiny Houses Are Helping Senior Citizens

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Adults in their 30s and 40s may have championed the tiny house movement, but a new demographic is reaping serious benefits from living small. It turns out that micro-sized homes offer an appealing alternative to expensive assisted living. Bette Presley, 74, of Arroyo Grande, California, downsized from a traditional mobile home to a 166-square-foot cabin.

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Sustainable tiny house for elderly parent

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Sustainable tiny house for elderly parent

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This Son Built His Aging Dad a Chic and Sustainable Tiny House, With Guitar Music Gentle Relaxation

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MEDCottage, A Tiny House Designed for The Elderly, Amazing Small House Design

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The tiny house movement is all about downsizing your lifestyle so you can live a more fulfilling life without a lot of debt or a huge mortgage hanging over your head. While you can buy a prefabricated dwelling or a customized small house on wheels, you can save a bundle if you make your tiny house yourself.

The average cost spent by a do-it-yourselfer building their own tiny dwelling is around $23,000, according to a 2015 survey. But you can build one for less-a lot less.

Have a look at the following five tiny homes for some examples of how it can be done at prices ranging from $500 to a little less than $12,000. Bear in mind that prices will vary depending on your location and when you build.

This Tiny Home Cost Less Than $12,000

Macy Miller purchased an old recreational vehicle for $500 and then spent the following two years transforming it into a beautiful 196-square-foot home. Most of the home is made of upcycled materials. For instance, the siding incorporates wood from upcycled shipping pallets. The house is also loaded with resource-saving features, such as a composting toilet. For comfort, the tiny abode is tricked out with radiant floor heating.

During that time, Macy fell in love, got married, gave birth, and adopted a 150-pound Great Dane named Denver. Properly planned and executed, a tiny house can be a perfectly comfortable home for a family.

This Tiny House in the Trees Cost $4,000

One New Year's Eve, Dave Herrle promised his wife that he would build her a tree house. So he did, and it soon became their second home. The project cost $4,000 and took six short weeks to construct, though this was possible only because Herrle is a skilled craftsman. Elaborate treehouses for adults are increasingly common as permanent residences for those dedicated to tiny house living.

Dave's tiny house is nestled on a wooded hillside. The home features a raised deck overlooking the woods. Low-maintenance, natural wood siding covers the home, with aluminum roofing completing the cabin-like mood.

A Dome-Shaped Concrete Home for About $3,500

These tiny dome-shaped homes are called Binishells. They are constructed using a process that is similar to making a papier-mâché balloon base. In this case, concrete is poured over a heavy-duty air pump bladder and steel rebar framework. Next, the bladder is deflated to reveal a tiny, resilient home that can stand up to extreme conditions such as earthquakes, high winds, or even lava flows.

Originally used for emergency shelters and temporary structures such as auxiliary school classrooms, recent years have seen Binishells adopted by the tiny-house crowd.

This Tiny Vacation Home Cost Less Than $3,000

If you're an urban dweller who fantasizes about building your own tiny vacation home, Pin Up Houses is a company that creates and sells building plans for tiny homes. The Cheryl Cabin is a 153-square foot vacation retreat with a 47-square foot porch. The estimated construction cost is $3,200. The plans vary based on size but a traditional tiny home blueprint starts at $290, and they come with a money-back guarantee.

A Tiny Home Is Possible for Only $500

Finally, here is a fantastic custom tiny home built by Scott Brooks for a mere $500. Although it's only 83 square feet, it is remarkably cozy and comfortable. To slash building costs, he constructed this cozy Pacific Northwest abode out of salvaged materials, such as the large reclaimed picture window that looks out on the Northwest forest.

If you want to be dazzled by even more tiny homes check out the best tiny homes on Instagram.

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These 5 Tiny Homes Cost Less Than $12,000 to Build

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The tiny house movement is all about downsizing your lifestyle so you can live a more fulfilling life without a lot of debt or a huge mortgage hanging over your head. While you can buy a prefabricated dwelling or a customized small house on wheels, you can save a bundle if you make your tiny house yourself.

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Smart Homeowner

Buying a tiny home for retirement is an excellent way to shave expenses. The Family Handyman looks at 15 tiny homes for the retiree who wants a single-level tiny home or wants a sleeping area on the main/lower level.

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Do It Right, Do It Yourself!

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The 15 Best Tiny Homes to Buy After Retirement

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View as slideshow Smart Homeowner Buying a tiny home for retirement is an excellent way to shave expenses. The Family Handyman looks at 15 tiny homes for the retiree who wants a single-level tiny home or wants a sleeping area on the main/lower level. Do It Right, Do It Yourself!

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If there's one trend that's surprised us in the small living movement, it's the steady rise in prices, to the point that luxury models fetching around US$100,000 are pretty much the norm. That said, there are still affordable options out there and each of these five tiny houses are available for under $50,000.

To be clear, we're only covering homes that are available to purchase (or at least were at time of writing) and have tried to feature as wide a variety of designs as possible, including a modern design, barn-style tiny house, and a non-towable shipping container-based home.

Escape is a big hitter in the tiny house scene and has produced a number of attractive homes, but at $46,600 the standard Vista hits the sweet spot between features, size and price. With a total floorspace of 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m) all laid-out on one level, there's not a whole lot of room available in there, but hopefully the generous glazing prevents it from feeling too claustrophobic.

The Vista includes a kitchenette, dining and living area, and a bedroom area. There are plenty of options available too, including a pop-up TV in the bedroom and a full off-grid setup with solar power, composting toilet, etc.

For those looking to save even more money, the firm also offers smaller and cheaper iterations of the Vista: the Vista Go and Vista Sport, the latter costing just $29,800.

Aside from a basketball hoop and a ladder to access the rooftop deck, the exterior is pretty plain, while a removable ramp and garage door allows a (small) quad bike to be driven right inside. The snug dwelling includes three beds, including a sleeping loft upstairs, while elsewhere lies a tiny putting strip, kitchenette, and bathroom with toilet and shower.

At the rear of the Man Cave is a large slide-out BBQ and power comes from a 500 W rooftop-based solar array.

The tiny house itself has a total floorspace of 154 sq ft (14 sq m), split between a living area, kitchen, closet, and bathroom with shower and composting toilet. A sleeping loft and secondary storage loft are both accessed by ladder.

For the money, you get 312 sq ft (28 sq m) living space built from a single 40 ft (12 m) shipping container that has been cut and extended in height by 30-in (76.2 cm). The interior includes a main living area, kitchenette and a generously-proportioned bathroom with tub and shower. Storage-integrated stairs lead to the sleeping loft and a secondary smaller small lies at the other side of the home for storage purposes.

That rounds out our look at sub-$50,000 tiny houses. A few models worth a mention that didn't make the cut include France's Tiny Stream, which costs the equivalent of just $26,600 and the Wheel Pad, a disabled-access tiny house not intended for full time living for sale for $50,000.

There's also Escape's Vintage, which offers a more traditional cottage-style look but costs $59,800. Finally, a tiny house that was built for just $500 highlights what can be achieved with some scrap materials and a lot of hard work (not to mention a friendly landowner to let you put the home on).

View gallery - 40 images

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If there's one trend that's surprised us in the small living movement, it's the steady rise in prices, to the point that models fetching around US$100,000 are pretty much the norm. There are still affordable options out there though and each of these five tiny houses are available for under $50,000.