Essential Tips to Making Your Tiny House Sustainable

Taking advantage of the sun’s free light and heat is the easiest way to shave down your energy consumption. Installing solar panels may be a larger upfront financial investment, but you’ll save money in the long run. In fact, calculations show that the average household can save $1,390 a year by going solar, though this number will fluctuate based on where you live. To check your potential savings, type your location into Google’s solar savings estimator. Keep in mind that since tiny homes are quite small, you won’t need to install too many solar panels to power your space.

As you’re designing your sustainable tiny house, be sure to leverage windows to reduce (or, in sunny areas, completely eliminate) your need for artificial light during the day. Strategically installing large skylights and windows on doors and along walls can light up most of your tiny house, which will also clear up precious floor space where you might’ve had to put a lamp.

Insulating your tiny house properly goes right along with eco-friendly energy sources like solar panels. About 35 percent of heat loss happens through uninsulated walls or the gaps in your windows and doorways. Mounting storm windows on the inside or outside of your main windows can improve thermal insulation and add an extra layer of protection from wind, rain and hail. You should also routinely clean the jambs on your windows and check for any cracks or leaks that need caulking. As you’re thinking about what insulation materials to install in your walls, you can choose from cheap and lightweight batts (fiberglass), eco-conscious denim, concrete blocks, polystyrene and more. Our favorite option is blow-in cellulose insulation that uses 85 percent organic materials like wool and paper, and is relatively inexpensive.

There’s literally no room for single-use tools or junk in a tiny home, so now’s the time to really make every item in your space show off its range. Instead of having multiple cleaning detergents, shampoos, conditioners and soaps, make use of Dr. Bronner’s renowned “18-in-1” castile soap to create your own dish soap, laundry detergent, floor cleaners, body wash and more. If you have outdoor space, grow your own organic vegetable garden and herb wall to save money on groceries and supply yourself with fresh produce. And if you’re looking to furnish your tiny house, scratch your DIY itch by teaching yourself some basic woodworking skills or purchasing items secondhand from thrift stores.