If you’ve ever investigated adding an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) to your property as an extension of an existing home, or considered the possibility of living the tiny home lifestyle somewhere remote, you’ve probably found yourself overwhelmed by the options available today. Ironically, such small structures bring with them a large array of things to consider. One company called Cosmic is attempting to streamline the process by inviting customers to spec out solar powered homes equipped with battery storage, high performance insulation construction, air purification systems, and gray water solutions with the same ease as specifying options while buying a car.

The San Francisco ADU developer offers three Cosmic ONE layouts ranging in price from $279,000 all the way up to $445,500 with all the options included. The smallest unit is a 380-square-foot studio ideal as a backyard ADU, with a 595-square-foot one-bedroom and even larger 750-square-foot two-bedroom unit sized for full-time residency. Once a layout size is chosen, each design can be further customized aesthetically, primarily with the color expressed in the smooth-coated aluminum panel facade exterior, which complements cedar siding or eco-cement fiber.

Things become interesting while configuring the building’s efficiency technologies. For example, each unit comes equipped with a half-roof array of solar panels and a 5 kWh backup battery allowing for net zero operations unplugged from the grid....