RSS FeedJun 26 2009
Tiny Homes and Efficiency
There is a lot more to building an eco-friendly and tiny home than might initially meet the eye. It would be easy to say that a tiny home is, well not surprisingly, small. But tiny homes these days mean much more than just small.
Most buildings and architects that are involved in the tiny home movement are also making sure that their homes have a variety of traits. While not completely universal, these core set of “home values” pop up a great deal in the tiny home universe.
One core concept in the tiny home movement is that the space is used well. Architects realize that just tossing up four walls will really not cut it when the space is limited. Virtually all the architects involved in the movement realize that a tiny home is likely going to be much smaller than what people are generally accustomed to living in. As a result, architects and builders usually work to make their tiny homes visually interesting or at the least, very user friendly.
Another tiny home element that is popping up in a great many of today’s designs is an eye toward energy efficiency. The notion that going tiny is only an aspect of the battle again high home heating and cooling cost. To this end, many architects and manufacturers are incorporating all sorts of energy saving strategies, such as energy efficient lighting, energy efficient appliances, smart use of passive lighting and high-efficiency building materials.
As many architects and builders are concerned about the energy issue, it is not surprising that many are taking the next step beyond energy efficiency and are moving toward solar power. Many tiny home designs today are seeing solar panels incorporated right into the design. The thinking is that a highly efficient tiny home, when combined with solar power, equals a home that is using just a small fraction of the energy of today’s average American dwelling.
When all of these different factors are combined they have a very large impact. By using new techniques and approaches to home building in general, the new generation of tiny home architects and builders are making tiny homes that are very energy efficient. This movement is great for the homeowner in terms of lower overall living costs and has obvious benefits for the environment as well.
There is a lot more to building an eco-friendly and tiny home than might initially meet the eye. It would be easy to say that a tiny home is, well not surprisingly, small. But tiny homes these days mean much more than just small.
Most buildings and architects that are involved in the tiny home movement are also making sure that their homes have a variety of traits. While not completely universal, these core set of “home values” pop up a great deal in the tiny home universe.
One core concept in the tiny home movement is that the space is used well. Architects realize that just tossing up four walls will really not cut it when the space is limited. Virtually all the architects involved in the movement realize that a tiny home is likely going to be much smaller than what people are generally accustomed to living in. As a result, architects and builders usually work to make their tiny homes visually interesting or at the least, very user friendly.
Another tiny home element that is popping up in a great many of today’s designs is an eye toward energy efficiency. The notion that going tiny is only an aspect of the battle again high home heating and cooling cost. To this end, many architects and manufacturers are incorporating all sorts of energy saving strategies, such as energy efficient lighting, energy efficient appliances, smart use of passive lighting and high-efficiency building materials.
As many architects and builders are concerned about the energy issue, it is not surprising that many are taking the next step beyond energy efficiency and are moving toward solar power. Many tiny home designs today are seeing solar panels incorporated right into the design. The thinking is that a highly efficient tiny home, when combined with solar power, equals a home that is using just a small fraction of the energy of today’s average American dwelling.
When all of these different factors are combined they have a very large impact. By using new techniques and approaches to home building in general, the new generation of tiny home architects and builders are making tiny homes that are very energy efficient. This movement is great for the homeowner in terms of lower overall living costs and has obvious benefits for the environment as well.
