Save Money and Decrease Your Ecological Footprint by Living in a Tiny House
Posted on Feb 01, 2009 - 05:43 PM
By: Brian Liloia
One of the most effective ways to minimize your ecological footprint is to move into a tiny house. A tiny house requires little energy to build, and less energy to keep comfortable throughout the changing seasons compared to modern day McMansions. As you could probably guess, living in a tiny house also entails that you will make additional lifestyle changes. In particular, decreasing your consumption and material possessions comes hand in hand with a shift to a small house.
Save money and energy in a tiny house
You can save money by living in a small house. Aspiring home builders are advised to think small: tiny houses are cheaper to build and maintain, and require fewer resources to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Tiny houses have been built out of everything from logs, straw bales, wood pallets, cob, and even pre-existing structures like grain bins have been adapted to dwellings.
Those without the time and resources to build their own house should look into any number of the pre-fabricated tiny houses that have come into the market. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is one such business offering homes ranging anywhere from 65 to 117 square feet, and Tortoise Shell Houses sells 128 square foot homes for less than $20,000.
Live more happily in a smaller space
You can live more simply and happily in a smaller space. Tiny house residents learn to keep their possessions to a minimum because of a decrease in possible storage space. How many people do you know that have attics, basements, and garages full of boxes that they’ve been stockpiling or neglecting? Perhaps more disturbing is when people must resort to renting additional storage space to house their wealth of crap. Oftentimes, these individuals can’t seem to get to together to get rid of these belongings.
However, you can avoid this whole problem by moving into a smaller space. Only then will you recognize your true priorities, and your material possessions will receive a serious trimming. This can be a liberating experience. Many people report greater happiness when they are not carrying around the baggage (pun sorta intended) associated with an excess of possessions.
Small houses equal a smaller carbon footprint
Ultimately, you will decrease your carbon footprint by living in a tiny house. Other than the fact that smaller houses require fewer materials to construct and are less ecologically disturbing, you will burn fewer fossil fuels in the summer and winter trying to maintain a comfortable living space. You can feel liberated by a more intimate dwelling, without the burden of a wealth of possessions taking up space.
For more information on tiny houses, check out some of the following websites:
Tiny House Blog
Tiny House Design
Shedworking
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Show/Hide Comments (1)
By Tricia on 02/05/2009
great advice. I live in a small house on a small block. I love the challenge of trying to fit everything in. including chhoks and vege garden!
