How do we really use our homes? Growth in the average size of the American home over the last 50 years has not lead to greater use of all the space within a home. According to a UCLA study of 32 families, if homes were built to be more space, and therefore more energy, efficient based on the way families use them, most new homes would likely be much smaller.

Here is also another look at the space-efficient home designed to meet resident needs in the form of a Brooklyn, New York micro-apartment that blends with the outdoors.

Read more about the study on TreeHugger >>