In thinking about the worldwide lack of reliable water, sanitation, food, and electricity—and the fact that housing sector contributes more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions—the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture and the New Haven, Connecticut–based architecture firm Gray Organschi Architecture designed and constructed a 230-square-foot home called the Ecological Living Module (ELM). The construction is a fully off-grid housing prototype that was designed to take advantage of sustainable materials, green technology, and simple construction methods. There's a a rainwater harvesting system, a solar system that provides 100 percent of the building’s energy needs, and a graywater system that irrigates food-producing plants that mark the building’s west facade. Photo 2 of 9 in This Tiny, Off-Grid Prefab Home Grows Its Own Food

This Tiny, Off-Grid Prefab Home Grows Its Own Food

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The tiny home was oriented to best take advantage of the sun, and an entire facade of the building was designed to hold greenery.