Take a Look at Tiny Homes!
In another look at architecture’s relationship with the environment, tiny homes have been revolutionizing the impact of homeowners’ energy use for the better.
The tiny house movement is, “an architectural and social movement that encourages living a simpler life in a smaller space. (Tiny Home Builders)” This movement gained traction following the 2008 recession as a means of financial and lifestyle simplification.
This movement has defined tiny homes as living spaces whose areas are measured to be under 600 square feet. For reference, these tiny homes are just about x3 the size of your dorm room (but remember they can be two stories)!
These tiny houses have exploded in popularity whether as the topic of Netflix TV specials or as a solution for housing issues. Tiny houses have also garnered the interest of interior designers, architects, and urban designers due to the interesting possibilities these houses hold!
However, these condensed living spaces have proven to be mechanisms for change in terms of decreasing carbon footprints. Let’s take a look at how these tiny homes are spurring a large change.
Compare and Contrast: Tiny vs Regular Homes
One of the most important considerations when building a home is materials. The types, cost, and transportation of materials is crucial in the construction process yet it is also crucial in terms of environmental impacts.
A typical home, which is an “average size of… 2,600 square feet (CNN)”, requires at least seven loads of lumber, which is currently considered in relatively short supply in some countries, bricks and other materials (Go Green). Deforestation due to industry activity is a topic for another day, but be aware that deforestation is a source of increasing global CO2 concentrations- which heavily impacts the environment!
In comparison to a typical home, a tiny home only requires half of a truck load of the same materials (Go Green). This helps not only cut down on CO2 emissions due to deforestation but also on emissions due to transport. Tiny homes also are more likely to used recycled materials, such as recycled lumber, in their construction than regular homes due to size to cost ratios (Fox Tiny Homes).
Another important piece to look at is the contribution of a single household in terms of CO2 production and energy usage.
It has been found that “residential homes contribute 18% of greenhouse gases” as each individual household, of a regular size, “contributes 28,000 lbs of CO2 emissions per year (Go Green).” According to the US Census Bureau, there are 137.9 million homes in the United States alone. With a simple calculation, you will find yourself astounded by the CO2 output.
The CO2 output from an individual home is due to utilities such as electricity and heating/cooling systems, which are necessary in a home. However, tiny homes, “only produce 2,000 lbs of CO2 per year (Go Green)” as a result of using the exact same utilities! The amount of space covered by these utilities are severely decreased in tiny homes thus resulting in lower rates of utility consumption.
CO2 is one of several greenhouse gases which play a crucial role in climate change. The natural carbon cycle is disrupted by anthropogenic activities such as driving, industrial production, and even living in a home! While this is an extremely complex topic, know that your personal carbon footprint extends past your driving and traveling habits.
Finally, a research conducted by environmental design researcher Maria Saxton found that tiny homes’ “ecological footprints were reduced by 45%. (Science Times)” This means that, due to a reduction in their electrical consumption, time home owners were able to establish ecological footprints that are “down from about 17.3 acres for regular-sized homes. (NY Post)”
What You Can Do
As a right now, the most you can do is be educated on the topic!
When you are at home, consciously monitor your utility usage. That means shutting off unnecessary lights, decreasing appliance usage to the bare minimum, and engage in other energy saving behaviors. Check out the infographic attached at the end of this post to take a look at some more home energy statistics!
If the idea interests you as a possible future living style, then continue to read about the benefits and drawbacks of tiny homes. If you are currently in the market for a home or living space, carefully consider tiny homes as a viable option- not only is it better for the environment but it will also save you a lot of money!
There is also always room for growth in terms of tiny home design, construction, and utility usage so if you like to solve these kinds of problems, pursue a new solution!
Finally, be aware of the social impacts that tiny homes can also have.
For example, the city of Philadelphia has pledged to create two villages of tiny homes by the end of 2020 in response to the five month protest against homelessness in the city (CBS Local). The construction of these homes are, in terms of the environment and economics, smart choices that will help begin to solve a huge issue as well as help homeless individuals to get back on their feet.
There are typically connections between environmentally conscious actions and positive social results, so make sure to look for them!
Expand Your Horizons (Sources)
