Save Energy and Enjoy the Tiny House Lifestyle

There’s a whole “tiny house” movement in the U.S. that’s appealing for a number of reasons. Tiny homes offer a minimal lifestyle that is often more environmentally friendly than average homes. They also give homeowners greater financial and physical flexibility, allowing them to live the life they choose. Learn more below about tiny home benefits and their energy-saving potential.

Energy Savings

One of the most compelling advantages of a tiny home is that it significantly lowers your carbon footprint. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, homes contribute to 6% of America’s greenhouse gas emissions through fuel consumption and electricity. Since most tiny houses are only 400 square feet at their largest — as opposed to the average American’s house of about 2,300 square feet — they obviously have less space to heat and cool. 

The American Institute of Architects found that tiny homes use only 7% of the fuel and electricity average-sized houses utilize. 

A Stepping Stone to Financial Freedom

A Stepping Stone to Financial Freedom

While conserving energy is top of mind these days as a way to protect our natural environment and stop global warming, there are other very real benefits to downsizing. According to a 2021 report, 20% of American homeowners’ annual spending goes toward housing payments, property taxes, and other home expenses. Another recent report revealed that 125 million Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

The tiny house movement says that you don’t need to live your life saddled with a mortgage payment. Instead, you can use that money to travel or enjoy other adventures. 

Taking Your Home Cross-Country

Speaking of traveling, that’s another benefit of a tiny house — you can literally put it on wheels and take it with you. With all your belongings in one building that can easily hitch to a truck, you can change your lifestyle to finally make your sightseeing dreams come true. Whether you want to spend summer on the Great Lakes and winter in sunny L.A. or want the option to take a tour of your favorite national parks, a tiny home lets you travel more often.

Choosing Experiences Over Stuff

Choosing Experiences Over Stuff

A cornerstone of the tiny house movement is the idea that when you clear the clutter from your life, you can focus on what makes you happy. Financial freedom means you have more time to do what you want, and when in a tiny house, it goes without saying that you’ll spend a whole lot less time doing chores. You’ll have to decide which items are worth storing in your limited space, but it can be freeing to declutter and minimize your home.

Higher Quality of Life 

Many of the changes that come with a tiny home contribute to feelings of freedom, like donating unused items, buying less and living a more travel-friendly life. Flexibility is one of the most significant tiny home benefits. Many people feel like a tiny home lets them live the life they want. To learn more, check out this video where tiny house owners talk about what living in a tiny house means to them.

 

How to Make Your Tiny Home Energy-Efficient 

One of the greatest benefits of a tiny home is its energy savings. The ability to consume less power and produce less waste makes these homes popular. Many owners of tiny houses choose solar panels, composting toilets and other options for sustainable living. Reducing energy costs is a significant part of creating a greener lifestyle. Here are a few more energy-saving tips for tiny homes:

  • Install a programmable thermostat: Electric heating and cooling are popular for tiny houses. You can reduce wasted energy and save money by programming your thermostat to adjust automatically at certain times.
  • Insulate sufficiently: Poor insulation can cost a homeowner $200 to $400 a year. Cracks in windows, drafts and outdated heating and cooling systems create an uncomfortable home and a larger energy bill. Insulating can save a significant amount of money over time.
  • Use LED bulbs: Compared to incandescent lights, LED bulbs have a longer life span and use around 75% less energy. You can save money by switching to more efficient LED bulbs.
  • Upgrade to Energy Star appliances: Energy Star appliances are an investment in your tiny home’s long-term energy efficiency. In 2019 alone, Americans saved $39 billion in energy costs by using Energy Star products.
  • Apply window film: Sun streaming into your windows can increase energy costs by heating your home’s interior and causing your AC to work harder. Purchasing window film for tiny homes is a simple solution, as it can reflect and absorb up to 86% of the sun’s heat. 

Purchase Madico®, Inc. Window Film for Tiny Homes

When looking into tiny home energy savings, consider Madico window film to reduce glare and decrease your energy costs. Our window film can block up to 99% of UV light from sun rays entering your windows. In a tiny house, a small change like applying window film can add up to big savings.

If you are interested in increasing your home’s comfort using window film, contact us today or find a window film dealer who will help you find the right film for your tiny home. 

   

How Window Film Reduces Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases (a combination of vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) are in the earth’s atmosphere and act as a giant blanket that makes the earth warmer, referred to as the greenhouse effect. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 40% since pre-industrial times – the current level is higher than it’s been in the last 800,000 years.

 

Window film is applied to glass to provide solar protection and increase energy efficiency by helping to reject heat in the summer and retain heat in the winter. This helps to reduce greenhouse gases in the following ways:

 

  • Less electricity and natural gas are used for heating and cooling
  • Fewer fossil fuels are burned
  • Less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere

 

Vicious Cycle

 

Vicious CycleStudies show that electricity (which is used for heating and cooling homes and businesses) is the biggest culprit for producing greenhouse gas emissions, which causes global warming, which causes climate change. One obvious result of this cycle is warmer temperatures. According to the First Biennial Report of the United States of America, 2012 was the hottest year ever in the United States, and the 12 hottest years globally all happened in the last 15 years. Not surprisingly, greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use by homes and businesses went up 28% in the last 15 years.

 

 

Window Film to the Rescue

 

Now for some more encouraging facts from the International Window Film Association:

 

  • Buildings account for 40% of all U.S. energy used
  • Windows are responsible for 25% of a building’s consumed energy
  • 40% of commercial buildings and 33% of residential buildings have single pane glass

So there is vast potential for window film to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s a look at just one example: the Safeco Plaza in Seattle, Washington, was ahead of its time and installed window film in 1996. Not only did they reduce their carbon emissions each year, they also enjoyed annual savings of $200,000 – not to mention the government incentives and rebates they received. And with the way the U.S. government has been strengthening its charge to stop global warming as of late, those incentives will no doubt only get better.

   

7 Energy-Saving Features to Look for in a New Home

A white picket fence, two-car garage and grade-A schools are no longer enough to sway today’s discerning homebuyers. If you’re in the market for a new home, your focus is likely on lower utility and maintenance costs, greater comfort and, naturally, a home that will appreciate in value over time.
 

A National Association of Home Builders’ survey from 2021 revealed that 57% of prospective home buyers are willing to pay extra for a home if it will save them at least $1,000 a year on utility costs. When you’re looking for four walls to call your own, these seven features can have the greatest impact on your long-term investment.
 

1. Economical Heating and Cooling

Heating and cooling costs account for nearly half of your utility bill. Although a solar heating system would be the most efficient, it’s still a pretty rare find, and it’s often expensive. No matter what heating and cooling system is installed in a home, look for insulated ducts and a programmable thermostat. 

You could also add a smart thermostat after moving in. Smart thermostats are an investment, but their clever features make them worth the money. Many models allow you to track your energy usage throughout the day so you can find ways to cut it down, and some models even offer remote control from your phone. By taking advantage of these features, you can easily optimize the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system. 

2. Insulated Air Ducts

According to Energy Star, leaks and holes in the duct system are responsible for about 20% of a home’s air loss. This loss can increase utility costs and affect the temperature of your home.

Insulated or sealed air ducts will help prevent this significant loss of energy and keep air temperature consistent and comfortable throughout the entire house. Ask your real estate agent to provide you with information on a house’s ducts, including whether they’re insulated, blocked or open. It may not be the first feature you look for when touring a home, but this sneaky energy waster is well worth a peek at before purchasing.

3. Solid Walls

In addition to the air ducts and windows, walls should be properly insulated to avoid heat lost through drafty spots. Eyeing a 1920s Dutch Colonial? It may look sweet and charming on the outside, but its walls are most likely cavity walls. As the name implies, cavity walls have a hollow space between a sheet of brick and a sheet of concrete. Unless the previous homeowner made updates, there might not be insulation in these walls. Ask your real estate agent for more information about the house before making any moves to purchase.
 

4. Proper Water Drainage

Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a nationally recognized energy performance rating system, suggests checking how a home manages the flow of water. Angled drainpipes and graded landscaping should direct water away from the home to prevent damage to the walls, roof and foundation. Additionally, see if the home’s landscaping allows the yard to drain properly. Standing water can damage your yard and breed mosquitoes and other pests, which can harm the land surrounding the house.

Keeping moisture out of a home can help secure the air quality inside. These measures also protect the integrity of the home’s insulation and HVAC system, so they can continue to run effectively and efficiently.
 

5. Energy Star Appliances

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, the majority of homebuyers are willing to pay more upfront to save more money on energy costs later. Installing energy-efficient appliances is an excellent way to improve the efficiency of an existing home. 

Energy Star is a government-endorsed certification that marks products and buildings as energy-efficient. For example, an Energy Star-certified washing machine uses 50% less water than its conventional counterpart. From refrigerators to bathroom ventilation fans, all Energy Star-certified appliances use less energy and save you more money.


 


 

6. Sealed Windows and Doors

Drafty windows and doors can make your energy bill skyrocket. When touring a home, make sure you ask your real estate agent what materials the windows and doors are made of and how they’re sealed. 

If you love a home but find the windows aren’t as airtight as you’d like, you can solve this problem using any of the following methods:

  • Weatherstripping
  • Caulking
  • Using door snakes
  • Adding curtains or shades
  • Applying a window film
  • Adding storm windows

By effectively sealing your openings, you can increase any home’s energy efficiency without needing to go out and buy a whole new set of windows. 

7. Window Films

On average, a home loses about 30% of its heating energy through its windows. Using energy-saving window treatments like films can significantly reduce home energy costs by filtering the amount of natural light that can pass through your windows. With less light entering the building, you won’t need to use as much energy for cooling as you normally would. In the winter, a window film can help to keep heat in the building, which can slash your heating bill.

In general, reflective window films are more effective than colored or transparent ones, but newer models have become better at filtering light while maintaining a neutral appearance. Madico’s window films are Energy Star-certified and come in a wide range of high-performing colors to suit every home.
 

About Madico Window Films

In addition to contributing to a home’s energy efficiency, window films can be beneficial to your health and well-being.

Other benefits of installing Madico window films include: 

  • Better scratch and crack prevention.
  • Improved privacy.
  • Increased comfort in your home.
  • Reduced glare.
  • Elevated appearance of your windows.
  • Higher resale value.

All our window films, from residential to automotive, have a manufacturer’s warranty in North America. You can trust Madico to provide the best energy-saving window treatments for your home.

Maximize Your Home’s Efficiency With Madico Window Films
 

Looking for an easy, beautiful way to save energy in your new home? Madico’s window films are an excellent choice. Use our online tool to find a Madico dealer near you. You can also use our film selector to get an idea of which product would be best for your needs. 

See Also: Tools for Monitoring Home Energy Usage