Representing more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and using up 40% of the planet's total resources, the housing sector is going to have to play a key role in effective climate policy. By building green, we can lessen the impact our buildings have on contributing to climate change while also building resilience into our homes and communities.

Seeking new solutions, the United Nations Environment Programme and UN Habitat recently teamed up with the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture to explore how sustainable design can limit the overuse of natural resources and climate change while also providing decent, affordable housing. “We clearly need more housing," said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment. "But the key thing is that we also need smarter housing” he added.

As tends to be the case these days, the result of their collaboration is a 22-square-meter "tiny house." Efficient and multi-functional, the eco-housing module is fully powered by renewable energy and constructed primarily from locally-sourced, bio-based renewable materials. Gray Organschi Architecture, known for their well-crafted sustainable designs, assisted with the design, fabrication and installation of the home, unveiled  during the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. 

Engineered to operate independently, the module’s built-in systems include solar energy generation, on-site water collection, micro agricultural infrastructure, natural daylighting, plant-based air purification, passive cross-ventilation, and a range of flexible, adaptable components for living and working. It can accommodate up to four people and was designed to be compatible with New York's specific micro-climate. Future iterations have also been drawn up to suit the climate in Quito, Ecuador, and another major world capital, Nairobi, in Kenya.