One of the fundamental pillars of living small is designing a tiny sustainable home. More and more homeowners are looking for ways to minimize their carbon footprint on the earth and live more responsibly. Tiny House for Us is a leader in the tiny home community and has put together a list of options you can explore to lessen your imprint on mother nature, and get started today.
Solar Panels
When you think of sustainable living, the first thought that pops into your mind is likely solar panels. Most tiny homes can get all of their needs met from solar panels. The typical small home requires 15 (fifteen) 300-watt solar panels to keep its electricity up and running. On average, this would generate 4,500 watts of power from the sun. Most solar panels will be placed on the ground outside the home. However, Tesla is developing a solar tile that may soon make solar panels on tiny house roofs more attainable for all sizes of homes.
Hemcrete
Hemcrete is made from the inside of a hemp plant. When it is mixed together with lime, it forms a concrete-like substance that is exceptionally sturdy yet lightweight. It can be used for roof insulation and flooring. The material protects your home from the usual wear and tear of weather and holds insulation well. Since the material is so light, the shipping of Hemcrete exports fewer emissions than traditional housing materials. Additionally, when a Hemcrete home is torn down, the walls can be used as fertilizer.
Cork Floors
While it may seem crazy that the same materials as the cork in your wine bottle can be used as your floor, it is incredibly sustainable and functional. Cork floors are lightweight, so they will not weigh your home down if you need to move it cross country. There are many companies that gather hundreds of thousands of wine corks throughout the year and turn them into flooring. Cork floors are hypo-allergenic, water-resistant, and good for insulation. Plus, they are easy on your joints when walking around!
Paper Insulation
Paper insulation is also known as cellulose insulation. It is made of recycled newspapers, leftover office stock, cardboard, and other paper materials. Using cellulose insulation is much healthier for the environment than traditional chemical foams. Plus, you are taking paper that would otherwise end up in a landfill and repurposing it. If you are using any type of raw paper for your insulation, you need to make sure the paper has been treated with borax, boric acid, and/or calcium carbonate. These treatments are natural and will protect the paper (and your home!) from combustion.
Make Ventilation a Priority
Working for a more sustainable future is more than just “turning your air conditioning off”. Look for ways to maximize the natural ventialization of your space in its structure. For example, building a house with two large windows across from one another will allow for a cross-breeze that can fill the home. As a result, you naturally do not need to turn the air conditioning as much as you normally would.
Energy Efficient Appliances
As technology progresses, there are more and more opportunities to find high-quality energy-efficient appliances. Check online resources like Energy Star to see which machines prioritize pulling the minimum amount of power to function. Additionally, invest in LED lights. LED lights can retain their adequate brightness much longer than other lights. Plus, they are heat resistant, so they do not cause your home to overheat and need air conditioning.
Rainwater Catchment
Collecting your own water can be as simple as leaving rain barrels out. Generally, collecting rainwater is a passive activity. However, a bit of upfront work can save you some time and energy down the line. We suggest purchasing some water pumps to ensure that all the water entering your tiny home is fresh and clean!
Upcycle Furniture
The old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is essentially upcycling. It is important to have quality furniture in your tiny home, but that does not mean it needs to be brand new. Instead, consider getting crafty, or hiring a crafty pal, to re-pain or refurbish a piece of furniture. This is not only a great return on investment for you but reduces that piece's carbon footprint.
Compost Toilets
Composting toilets are widespread with tiny homeowners who live off the grid. However, they are also an excellent option for making your small home more sustainable. Composting toilets work by separating liquid and solid waste into two separate chambers. If you so desire, you will be able to use the solid waste as compost. The pros of a compost toilet are not only that they are eco-friendly, but they are also cheaper than a septic tank in the long run. So while it will require more upfront cash, you will win financially in the long run with a composting toilet.
Consider Alternative Gardening
A great way to counteract the devastating effects of the mass food industry is to plant your own gardens. Many tiny homeowners opt to turn their rooftop into a garden or invest in vertical gardening. Vertical gardening uses hydroponics to allow plants to grow throughout a sheer panel. So, in addition to being more environmentally friendly, your food will be naturally organic!
Wind Turbine
The sun is the easiest and most common form of energy creation in sustainable housing. However, consider adding an additional energy creator like a wind turbine. A wind turbine is an accessible power source with minimal impact on the earth.
To conclude, there are numerous ways you can design your tiny to be sustainable. You don’t need to implement all of these systems at one time. It is okay to focus on one element and expand as you go. For example, consider a cork floor and solar panels before purchasing your first wind turbine or composting toilet. As you implement these sustainable changes into your home, you will help make the world a greener place and encourage future tiny homeowners to look for sustainable options too.
