The Tiny House Movement

The tiny house movement is quickly spreading across America. Many people are discovering the simple, less materialistic life of owning a tiny home. Such people are finding that tiny homes are the best form of living because it is cost effective, environmentally friendly, and energy efficient. They boast the beginning of an adventure filled life, without the stress of modern living.
One major benefit of owning a tiny home is the financial freedom. "For most Americans 1/3 to 1/2 of their income is dedicated to the roof over their heads; this translates to 15 years of working over your lifetime just to pay for it, and because of it 76% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck" (Henion ¶2). Many people; therefore, are transitioning into the simplistic life of being a tiny home owner. The cost benefits begin at construction. "The average cost to build a tiny house is $23,000 if built by the owner. The average cost of a standard-sized

house is approximately $272,000" (Henion ¶9). The construction of a tiny home is affordable for nearly anyone. Millennials are prone to constructing a tiny house because of their humongous student loans (Patel ¶4). Many tiny home owners are cutting their costs by building them themselves. Labor can be expensive, but doing it yourself will cut costs incredibly. Setting up the electrical and plumbing is a difficult task, and professional help is recommended (Morrison ¶5). When building a typical home, contractors tend to over order on material. It turns out, the leftover material is the perfect amount for a tiny home. The extra material can be purchased for a cheaper price. Tiny homes are going to use less flooring and siding too (Morrison ¶7). The benefit of constructing your own tiny home is using less material and saving more money.
Another reason for the tiny home movement is that tiny home living saves money from taxes and mortgages.

"Sixty-eight percent of tiny house people have no mortgage, compared to 29.3% of all U.S. homeowners" (Henion ¶6). By choosing the tiny life, it eliminates the financial burden of mortgages. Even retired baby boomers are moving away from traditional homes because of the high maintenance and endless mortgages (Patel ¶4). "Approximately 2 out of 5 tiny home owners are over 50 years of age" (Henion ¶11). The other financial issue many Americans face is taxes. The only taxes tiny home owners pay is for land properties and other minor fees (Patel ¶5). An example of a minor fee is the heating and cooling for a tiny home. It all depends on the electrical demand on the house. The owner of the home could be producing their own electricity or someone could be supplying them (Downes ¶7). No matter the case, the taxes are affordable and the mortgage is non-existent. When it comes down to it, tiny homes are the cost effective

choice.
The owners of tiny homes are usually people that are conscious of their environmental footprint. In the tiny house nation, helping the environment happens to be a huge benefit. Tiny homes can save the Earth one construction at a time since tiny home construction uses less lumber. "It takes about 1/2 of 1 logging truck to provide lumber for a tiny house. It takes about 7 logging trucks to provide lumber for an average house" (Morrison ¶1). That fact is only plausible if tiny home owners choose to use new lumber during construction. Since tiny homes are so small, owners can make it out of recycled, re-purposed, or salvaged materials (Downes ¶3). "The average home size has increased by 61% in the last 40 years" (Morrison ¶2). Tiny home owners realize their environmental impact when constructing their homes. Their minimal use of building materials makes tiny home living perfect for the environmentally conscious.
There are additional ways tiny homes help the environment. One of the most eco-friendly ways to help the environment in tiny home living is by using a rainwater harvest and filtration system. By using this system, it allows the home owner to shower, wash clothes, and even flush the toilet. It is perfect to stay off the grid from other water sources (Kennedy ¶9). Speaking of toilets, the most popular option for a tiny home is a composting toilet. They have multiple chambers that properly dispose of waste. It is the classic option when it comes to going green (Morrison ¶3).
Another environmental impact is tiny homes use efficient lighting. "The average tiny house has 6 light bulbs consuming just 85.2 kWh [the product of the power in kilowatts and the time in hours] per year. The average house has 45 light bulbs consuming 639 kWh of electricity" (Morrison ¶4). Fluorescent lights last 10 times longer than the standard incandescent light. It offsets the carbon footprint and lowers greenhouse gas emissions (Morrison ¶4). Most tiny home owners try to make the most of their off the grid lighting.
Not only are tiny homes beneficial to the environment, but they are energy efficient. Two types of energy that tiny homes are known to use are solar and wind. "Small size means many houses are able to generate enough energy from solar panels or small windmills to meet the needs of the entire home" (Kennedy ¶7). Solar energy is used to power a home throughout the year. There are two ways of producing electricity from sunlight ("Renewable" ¶11). One way is solar thermal, which is using mirrors to concentrate the Sun's heat. The second way to produce energy from sunlight is called photovoltaic. It is less known to the tiny house nation, and with current technology, it has poor efficiency (Droege ¶6). Most home owners place solar panels on their roof to use its electricity instead of being dependent on hooking up to a power source. "Solar systems that power tiny houses range from just 250 watts to over 1000 watts depending on the energy needs of the home, and these systems include batteries for energy storage" (Kennedy ¶7). Solar is an excellent source of energy.
In addition to solar, some tiny homes are known to use wind energy. "The installed capacity of wind power is increasing rapidly around the world" ("Renewable" ¶9). For tiny homes that are not for travel, they use wind turbines for their power. Wind energy works by generating electricity from wind passing over the house (Taylor ¶18). It can be used in many ways, all of which are beneficial to the home. The most common use is to ventilate the area (Taylor ¶19). The heating and cooling of the home is reliant on proper ventilation. Heating a tiny home can be simple when using construction techniques such as thermal insulation (Taylor ¶3). This type of space heating conserves energy by keeping the house at a standard temperature. Aside from wind energy, a programmable thermostat will also keep the standard temperature in check (Taylor ¶4). Cooling a tiny home is a simple task. Ceiling fans and proper ventilation, make a huge difference when cooling the home. Altogether, tiny homes are the best form of living when trying to be energy efficient.
The tiny house movement favors a simpler way of living. Ultimately, tiny homes are the best form of living because it is cost effective, environmental friendly, and energy efficient. It is an easier way to have a dream home without the financial burden and the environmental impact of home building. With all these benefits, there is no wonder why America is becoming the tiny house nation.