If you’re considering building or buying a tiny home, or you have one already, then you’re probably wondering how you can make it more sustainable. Tiny homes are already sustainable, but there are still many more sustainable features you can incorporate into your tiny home. Here at Tru Form, we do our best to add sustainable features to our homes whenever possible. With our designer, Malia Schultheis, on your side, we can find new and creative ways to incorporate functional green features into your home.
Solar Power
If you want to make your home more sustainable, then you should consider installing some solar panels and harnessing the power of the sun. The sun is a powerful source of renewable energy that can power your tiny home, and harnessing the power of the sun is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint. By installing solar panels on your roof, you can generate electricity that significantly reduces or even completely eliminates your reliance on fossil fuels.
Even if you don’t get enough sun to eliminate fossil fuels in your homes, you can still harness the energy of the sun and power different lights or appliances in your tiny home. Here at Tru Form Tiny, we’ve seen a growing number of customers opting for solar power setups, and the benefits are clear—lower energy bills and smaller environmental impact.
Additionally, you could consider adding a battery storage system that will help you store excess energy that the sun generates to use at night or during cloudy periods. Batteries like these will ensure a constant power supply in your home, increasing energy independence and making your home much more sustainable.
Composting Toilets
Another great feature to incorporate into your tiny home is a composting toilet. Composting toilets are eco-friendly and use little to no water, making them a great alternative to flush toilets. These toilets also turn waste into compost for your garden. These toilets are perfect for off-grid living and conserve precious water resources. Plus, they’re surprisingly easy to maintain.
Traditional flushing toilets waste a significant amount of water, so in addition to low-maintenance requirements and better gardening, composting toilets can help you save money. These toilets also have a minimal odor if you maintain them properly, making them both a practical and eco-friendly choice.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances are great for whatever home you’re in, so you should consider them for your tiny home. When choosing appliances for your tiny home, opt for energy-efficient models that consume less electricity. Look for Energy Star appliances, appliances that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies as meeting their environmental guidelines. You can find various types of energy-efficient appliances, including:
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- HVAC units
The right appliances do a lot to cut down on your energy use, reduce your carbon footprint, and lower your utility bills. With energy-efficient appliances, you’ll use a lot less energy to do day-to-day things in your home. So while these appliances may have a higher upfront cost, they’ll save money and the environment in the long run.
Insulation and Ventilation
Proper insulation and ventilation are key to maintaining a comfortable temperature in your tiny home, but they’re also a great way to make your home more sustainable and reduce energy usage. Tru Form Tiny uses high-quality, eco-friendly insulation materials to keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We have used sheep insulation before as well. Good ventilation systems also ensure that fresh air circulates, improving indoor air quality.
High-quality insulation and ventilation also improve air quality in your home, greatly reducing the need for extensive heating and cooling systems. These variables lower energy consumption and costs.
Sustainable Building Materials
While sustainable building materials may not exactly be a “feature,” it’s still a great way you can make your home more sustainable and energy efficient. Using sustainable building materials is a cornerstone of eco-friendly construction. Tru Form Tiny sources sustainable materials, such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, and recycled steel, to create a beautiful and durable home.
These materials reduce environmental impact and add unique character to each tiny home. If you’re interested in building a tiny home or you’re adding more sustainable features to your existing abode, you should consider going with some more eco-friendly construction materials.
LED Lighting
LED lights use up to 80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they last much longer, making them the sustainable lighting choice for your home. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and have a much longer lifespan, often lasting up to 25,000 hours or more. They are available in a variety of colors and styles, from warm white to daylight hues, and can be dimmable, making them perfect for creating a cozy ambience in your tiny home.
LED Lighting is also easy to integrate into your home’s design, making highlighting architectural features simple. LED lights are also great task lighting for activities and general illumination, making them the smart lighting choice for your tiny home. Additionally, LEDs don’t contain harmful chemicals like mercury, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
Greywater Recycling
A more unconventional sustainable feature that you should consider implementing in your tiny home is a greywater recycling system. A greywater system collects water from sinks, showers, and washing machines and recycles it for use in toilets or irrigation. This system reduces water waste and can help you live more sustainably. It’s an especially useful feature for tiny homes looking to be as self-sufficient as possible.
With the right greywater recycling system, you’ll greatly reduce your water consumption, saving energy and money. Even simple greywater recycling systems can divert water to tanks for gardens, while more complex systems can include water treatment so that you can reuse it within your home.
Green Roofs
Green roofs are sustainable features for your tiny home that add some interesting aesthetic appeal. A green roof or living roof is a layer of vegetation you install on top of your building, providing various environmental benefits, including:
- Reduced heating and cooling costs
- Reduced stormwater runoff
- Wildlife habitat for beneficial insects and birds
A green roof can also improve air quality by filtering pollutants and adding oxygen to the atmosphere. When planning a green roof, consider using native plants to better support local ecosystems and biodiversity.
When you incorporate these sustainable features into your tiny home, you’ll be able to live both tiny and green. Since 2016, Tru Form Tiny has committed to building homes that are beautiful, functional, and kind to the planet. If you’re looking to design your own tiny house and want a space that’s comfortable, stylish, and green, you’ll want Tru From on your side. Our homes are the smart choice that benefits both you and the environment.
