Teeny Weeny Homes
By Collin Borzell
In the past few years a house movement has grown strength, called the tiny house movement. This is a growing community of homeowners who are realizing the excesses of traditional homes. Many factors motivate individuals to down size: from economics, to family, to environmental concerns. This movement is far more than smaller houses but a move to more sustainable living. These homeowners seek peace and tranquility, often living off the grid creating their own electricity and using only the water they can carry or filter. Most mini houses also use many reclaimed and recyclable products in the construction of their homes.
Over the past century American home sizes have increased dramatically, increasing forty four percent in the past 37 years. In 2010, the US census stated the average house size was at 2392 square feet. Compared to tiny homes, which reside in the 100 to 400 square foot range. Over the past 50 years the average number of people per household has decreased from 3.33 in 1960, to 2.54 in 2012, decreasing by about thirty five percent. This has dramatically increased the square footage per person, but less space is actually needed.
Over time houses begin to break down and require either extensive remodeling or demolition. An average house weighs about 650,000 pounds, compared to a 188 square foot house which only weighs around 10,000 pounds. Most houses may require from eight to ten full dumpsters to remove all of the waste from destruction. About 8000 pounds of waste is created in the construction of a new 2000 square foot home.
Due to laws in most towns which have a minimum house size, mini houses must be built on trailers. The creation of a house changes the land around it for a very long time. Trees usually must be cut down and huge pits must be dug to capture rainwater or act as leach fields. Mini houses on the other hand have no foundation to alter groundwater flows and due to a lack of flush toilets do not require immense water containment systems.
Many mini houses also utilize renewable energy sources to provide heat and electricity for the home. With a thirty to fifty square foot solar panel it is likely that a mini house could produce all the required energy from the sun. Mini houses also often utilize other forms of renewable energy such as small geothermal systems to pre heat their water. The small size of mini houses also allows for unique plumbing systems, or lack of. Almost all mini houses do not have flushing toilets but have composting toilets. Solid human waste is dropped into a container and mixed with sawdust to dehydrate the waste. This can then be composted and used as natural fertilizer in gardens around the property. The average toilet uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush and which is literally being flushed down the drain to be cleaned once again.
[photo, the lighthouse, by Jerad Kaliher licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]
By Collin Borzell
In the past few years a house movement has grown strength, called the tiny house movement. This is a growing community of homeowners who are realizing the excesses of traditional homes. Many factors motivate individuals to down size: from economics, to family, to environmental concerns. This movement is far more than smaller houses but a move to more sustainable living. These homeowners seek peace and tranquility, often living off the grid creating their own electricity and using only the water they can carry or filter. Most mini houses also use many reclaimed and recyclable products in the construction of their homes.
Over the past century American home sizes have increased dramatically, increasing forty four percent in the past 37 years. In 2010, the US census stated the average house size was at 2392 square feet. Compared to tiny homes, which reside in the 100 to 400 square foot range. Over the past 50 years the average number of people per household has decreased from 3.33 in 1960, to 2.54 in 2012, decreasing by about thirty five percent. This has dramatically increased the square footage per person, but less space is actually needed.
Over time houses begin to break down and require either extensive remodeling or demolition. An average house weighs about 650,000 pounds, compared to a 188 square foot house which only weighs around 10,000 pounds. Most houses may require from eight to ten full dumpsters to remove all of the waste from destruction. About 8000 pounds of waste is created in the construction of a new 2000 square foot home.
Due to laws in most towns which have a minimum house size, mini houses must be built on trailers. The creation of a house changes the land around it for a very long time. Trees usually must be cut down and huge pits must be dug to capture rainwater or act as leach fields. Mini houses on the other hand have no foundation to alter groundwater flows and due to a lack of flush toilets do not require immense water containment systems.
Many mini houses also utilize renewable energy sources to provide heat and electricity for the home. With a thirty to fifty square foot solar panel it is likely that a mini house could produce all the required energy from the sun. Mini houses also often utilize other forms of renewable energy such as small geothermal systems to pre heat their water. The small size of mini houses also allows for unique plumbing systems, or lack of. Almost all mini houses do not have flushing toilets but have composting toilets. Solid human waste is dropped into a container and mixed with sawdust to dehydrate the waste. This can then be composted and used as natural fertilizer in gardens around the property. The average toilet uses 1.28 gallons of water per flush and which is literally being flushed down the drain to be cleaned once again.
[photo, the lighthouse, by Jerad Kaliher licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]