A reader writes:
For what it's worth, Tiny Texas Houses near Austin, Texas has been doing this for many, many years. They recycle old building materials into tiny houses. Then they put it on a flatbed and ship it to your property. (Brad also runs the best salvage emporium I've ever seen.)
Another writes:
Tiny Houses are wonderful, especially when compared to McMansions. However the extent to which they reduce one's carbon footprint is mitigated by the fact that they will invariably be sited in far-flung, low-density areas.
The gas consumed by automobiles to get people to these houses will far outweigh the energy savings that could have been realized by simply choosing to live in a city near mass transit. If you must live in the country, Tiny Houses are the way to go. But it is the residents of high-density cities that have the smallest carbon footprints.
Another points to a curious case:
Tiny houses are sometimes quite the opposite of green, as some farmers are building them to stop the construction of wind turbines. Essentially, wind turbines in Canada have to be 550 meters from residential buildings, so farmers are building small "houses" and getting permits to be recognized as such to prevent construction of turbines because they are "eye sores".
(Photo by Flickr user bunchofpants)
The Dish 