Tiny homes are growing in popularity as the younger generation of home buyers are gravitating towards a simplistic lifestyle that is sustainable. A tiny home is a home that is 400 square feet or less, these homes are beginning to pop everywhere because of their fantastic benefits. Though tiny homes are sustainable, how can you make them even more eco-friendly? What are some DIY pointers to make your tiny home even better? Here are some tips and tricks to increase the environmental savviness of your tiny home:
Decorate with Plants
This is a simple and almost mindless way of making your tiny home eco-friendly. Plants look great aesthetically while also benefiting the air by taking toxins out of it and implementing purified air. Tiny homes limit the amount of decorating you can do, however, plants are small and don’t take up a lot of room, making them a great addition to your tiny home.
Use Natural Energy
Using natural energy is kind to the environment and your bank account. Natural energy can include installing solar panels, or it can simply mean using your windows more. Either option incorporates more natural energy into your tiny home.
Solar panels convert the sun’s light into energy which can be used to power lights and other electronically based things in your home. This will cut your electric bill down significantly while also not using electricity to power things.
Similarly, using your windows more will increase the amount of light in a space, allowing for less use of electricity, ultimately making a positive impact on the environment.
Limit Use of a Heating or Cooling System
Tiny homes already require less heating and cooling than standard homes which is one of the major benefits of a tiny home. However, a lot of the time people leave their heating or cooling system on when they aren’t home or for prolonged periods of time which is unnecessary and wastes ample amounts of energy. A simple fix to this is to put a timer on your heating or cooling system; installing a smart thermostat would also be a wise choice to limit the use of either of these cooling systems.
Tiny homes also can be heated by electric heaters which use less energy than an entire heating system. Similarly, a tiny home can be cooled down by window or floor fans because there is such a small amount of space that needs to be cooled off.
Install Cork Floors
Cork floors are growing in popularity in all kinds of homes for a number of reasons. Why are they a great addition in your tiny home to make it more eco-friendly? Cork floors are made from recycled corks and are hypoallergenic as well as totally water-resistant. They also provide great insulation and because of their comfortable surface, they can help reduce feet and back pain; types of pain that are most often associated with tile or ceramic floors.
Use Recycled Glass Tile
Tiny homes have the ability to use materials that would otherwise be expensive in standard homes; this is because they have a smaller surface area that has to be covered. Recycled glass tile can be pricey because of the cost to actually recycle it, however, it is affordable for a tiny home and will further the home’s eco-friendliness.
An expert form Goldleaf Designs, custom home builders in Cherry Hill pointed out, “Recycled glass tile is VOC free and can be used in any room that you would put regular tile in, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or even the floor. This is just as great for decorative purposes as it is environmentally friendly.”
Go Green With Your Tiny Home
If you are thinking about buying or already own a tiny home, odds are you are trying to create a life of simplicity or energy efficiency. By keeping these tips in mind, you will be able to make your tiny home as organic as possible in an affordable and efficient way.
