Hobbitat, a Maryland construction company, is building small houses made of reclaimed and reused materials. Hobs, as they are called, measure 250 square feet and can sleep up to four people. They usually take around six to eight weeks to build off-site and are moved onto the site in a single day.
 
The tiny house project began when Blue Moon Rising, an eco friendly vacation and education center, commissioned Hobbitat to construct thirteen cabins in 2011. But the aim is to now build Hobs for anyone interested.
 
Bill Thomas, co founder of Hobbitat, describes the art of building small structures as no easy feat. For Bill, these spaces need to 'sing' to the customer. Each structure to work effectively must be tailored for each individual customer and meet the exact requirements and style for that person.
 
The current trend is for ultra sustainable building and LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which provides the framework for implementing green design. The Hob is designed with this in mind and aimed at the consumer wanting to live in an eco-friendly way. The use of reclaimed materials ensures the 'smallest impact on the earth'.
 
However reuse also attracts people interested in saving costs. The rising costs of both energy and land are a concern for most people these days. The Hobs square footage is about eleven percent of a median U.S. house so much less energy is needed to heat or cool one.
 
Sue Thomas, co founder, realises it takes a special kind of person to live in a tiny house but I think when people realise the benefits for the environment and savings in living costs it will be a popular choice worldwide.