How Tiny Houses Can Save the World

When Jay Shafer designed, built and moved into his own 89 sq. foot tiny house in 1997, he didn’t know he was starting a movement.  He only knew that he was concerned about the impact he was having on the environment and wanted to simplify his lifestyle, cut his housing expenses, and lower his carbon footprint.

As a designer specializing in sustainable architecture, he had the skills and experience to turn tiny houses into a big idea.  His company, Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, is the seed from which a whole tiny house movement has sprung.

Today there are hundreds of thousands of people happily living in houses under 500 square feet in size.  Most are wood construction, but all sorts of materials are being used. People may buy plans and do it themselves or hire a local builder or buy a completed tiny home ( they are not modular homes) and have it transported to their location. There are many variations. Even Ikea is getting into the act  offering 250 and 375 square foot homes for sale.

Some tiny houses are set on fixed foundations. Others are on wheels, which means they qualify as mobile homes and not only can be moved rather easily, but also are exempt from real estate taxes. Naturally, because of their size, the little houses are cheaper to build and buy and are much cheaper and less work to maintain than the standard 2000+ sq. ft., free-standing American suburban house.

Many owners and would- be owners belong to the small house society, which brings tiny house aficionados together and offers online resources, recommendations, forums and even a facebook page for online networking.  Google  ” tiny houses” and you’ll find a bouquet of blogs and photos and individual ongoing experiences and enough information to keep you reading for hours.

I don’t know what the actual numbers are, but there seems to be a kind of McMansion backlash underway. Tiny houses are not only being used as principle residences, but also as offices, studios, guesthouses and vacation homes.   They are perfect too for communities of people looking for co-housing such as seniors or artists.  Half a dozen tiny houses can be put on a plot of land that would normally hold only one or two dwellings.  The only hassle is with zoning restrictions, but as more and more towns and cities are casting a sympathetic eye on the creation of “pocket neighborhoods” this sort of thing is happening more and more often.

I’m not surprised. It’s a sign of the times and a good one.  If the economic downturn and the crashing real estate market have a silver lining, this is it.  Tiny houses make both environmental and financial sense for individuals, couples, and co-housing groups.  Pocket neighborhoods are the wave of the future.

Most of us have more space than we need anyway. Let’s get back to basics.  Good-by to great rooms and guest baths and hello tiny houses.