Tiny houses are a new trend that is sweeping the nation. They can be found in almost every state, and for good reason. Tiny homes offer many benefits to those who live in them, but they can also have some positive environmental impacts as well.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the reasons tiny homes are environmentally friendly and how they can help save the environment all while without sacrificing living space, style or comfort.
How Tiny Houses can Help the Environment
Tiny houses are much more environmentally friendly than the average home. Some of the reasons for this include:
- Your tiny house can be made from recycled materials, which can reduce their carbon footprint by up to 50%.
- They have a smaller impact on water and air quality because they do not need to use as many resources to run them.
- They require less upkeep because they use fewer resources and take up much less space overall.
Fewer Materials Needed to Build a Tiny House
Tiny homes are much easier to build than a traditional house. This is because they require less materials and take up significantly less space, which means that the construction process can be completed in far less time (often just days).
It may seem like every tiny house is built from new materials because those who build them often use reclaimed, repurposed, and salvaged materials. This also means that tiny houses do not need to be torn down after a few years like some other living spaces might require due to the decay of their construction material over time.
Using Recycled Materials Makes Them More Environmentally Friendly
A tiny home made with recycled materials will save about 50% more carbon emissions than one built using new materials. Simply because recycling these old items already takes away some resources like water, minerals, etc. They use fewer natural resources so there is less of an impact on the environment.
Smaller Impact on Air Quality
The impact one full sized home can have on air quality is substantially more than a tiny house. This is because tiny houses are small, and they do not take up as much space in the environment. This means that there is no need to produce a bunch of new materials for construction or transportation.
Less Water Consumption
Tiny homes have smaller water consumption rates per person when compared with other living spaces due to their reduced use of resources including water. The amount of energy used by tiny house residents also contributes to this lower usage rate since it does not require all those gallons from your typical household pump. Tiny houses can even be built off-grid without hooking into municipal utilities. (Though you will still need an independent source).
Less Waste Pollution
Tiny dwellings are typically off-grid structures without energy sources nearby. This reduces your carbon footprint by minimizing how much fuel you need for transportation or electricity. They also can be fitted with biodegradable toilets to minimize your waste output.
Less Land
Tiny houses are designed to be more efficient with space, which means they require about one-third the amount of land that a traditional house does. That is better for wildlife and trees alike.
This saves land by not having to clear as many trees or plants from an area for development. Plus, it also reduces the amount of energy required both during production and on-site. Also, tiny houses can be built on any plot of land; even unused or tiny plots of urban property like parking lots and abandoned spaces in industrial areas.
Reduced and Eco friendly Materials
Building tiny is an environmentally friendly option because it requires less materials than standard construction methods do (which can also save money). This includes wood as well as other vital building supplies like nails or insulation material.
If you are really looking to step up your game and go full green, try to build your next home from scratch and consider using hemp fiberboard, sustainable bamboo, or recycled materials. These materials are 100% green and are structurally equal to traditional building materials.
Consider using bamboo or hemp fiberboard (or one of the many other eco-friendly building materials) in its construction. For example, bamboo can be used instead of plywood for flooring due to its greater strength yet lighter weight, so it does not need more wood than necessary. Plus, it has plenty of natural antibacterial properties on top of being a 100% renewable resource.
Small Footprint / Low Impact Living Area
Tiny homes are often more energy efficient because their small footprint means less ground needs heating with climate control systems like air conditioning and heating units. Plus, that low impact living area has much lower demands on the land itself. This should help you sleep better at night in your tiny bed.
Fewer Possessions, Less Waste
The tiny house lifestyle is all about living with less. That means you also have to dispose of much less waste as well. This reduces the amount of time spent cleaning up and doing laundry at home. So not only will you not accumulate as much useless items, but you will also have more free time to enjoy your simpler life.
Fewer Resources Required for Operation and Maintenance
Tiny homes require less energy to run which means lower utility bills, so you will be helping the environment as well as saving money too. With a smaller carbon footprint than an average home, tiny houses are environmentally friendly in so many ways.
Remember, saving resources does not have to mean sacrificing style. Designers can create small living spaces that look just as good as any other house out there. Go green with your next tiny house design project, it is not only for the environment, but also saves you money while looking great at the same time!
Summary
This is just scratching the surface of what makes tiny homes environmentally friendly. With the growing concern for climate change looming over our heads, it is no surprise there has been an increase in interest among people who want to live sustainably by downsizing their housing needs (and footprint). The greener movement started with recycling bins, but now it seems everyone wants to jump on board and make some major changes. Even if it means living more simply.