Reflections on my first year - part two
In part one of Reflections on my first year I wrote about the lifestyle changes that living tiny has wrought. In part two I am reflecting on the lessons I've had to learn in order to adapt to this lifestyle, as well as some of the challenges.
Lessons and challenges
I researched tiny houses before committing to have a tiny house built for me. And then I spent a lot of time researching what I would need and planning the costs during the build. However, inevitably there were surprises.
The biggest initial challenge was finding the right site. There were so many essential requirements, as well as some personal preferences, so it made for a long list. After months of searching I was able to meet all the essential requirements, including an affordable site rent, a firm stable foundation and supply of water, as well as a peaceful, natural location.
However, due to the orientation of the gravel pad on which the house is firmly situated, the house ended up facing north-west, instead of the ideal orientation of north. This soon became an issue in the early months of living in the house. I moved in as we were heading into winter and it rained a lot in those early months. As a result I ran out of power twice. This situation was exacerbated by the fact that no generators were available for sale until late winter, due to Cyclone Gabriel having caused so much damage around the country.
My solar system installer advised tilting the solar panels to capture more of the sun’s energy throughout the day. This was an excellent solution, enabling me to double or even triple the amount of solar radiation collected. However, the cost of over $3000 was an unexpected blowout of the budget.
I hadn’t adequately planned for the cost of a grey water system either. Having found a suitable off-the-shelf system, there was still the need for its installation in the ground. The initial quotation more than doubled once the plumber realised he had to divert the waste water pipes around the gas fittings. This was an issue specific to the current site, but was another blowout of the budget.
The lesson here was to allow more in the budget for extra contingencies.
Financial benefits
Part of the ethos of tiny house living is not only having a tiny ecological footprint, but hopefully, also a small financial one.
An off-grid solar system means no power bills (of course, the cost is up front!). I pay rent for the land; I consume gas, in the form of large cost-effective cylinders for cooking, heating and hot water; and as a mobile phone and connection to the internet are critical for both personal and business reasons, I have a good bundled deal for both with a rural wireless internet supplier. These are the sum total of the costs of my household.
Sadly, other critical costs of living – food and petrol (the latter essential in my remote location) – have risen in price significantly over the past year or two. I would love to grow more of my own food, but I’m currently limited by a small garden. However, this is one factor I can change readily in the near future.
Final thoughts
People often ask me if I stay warm enough during winter, and what the house is like to live in over summer.
In winter the temperatures often drop down close to zero (freezing point) overnight. In the morning when I wake, it is also chilly inside initially. However, my efficient gas heater, which is installed under the kitchen cabinets, soon warms the space. Due to the orientation of the house, the sun doesn't shine into the main living area until about midday. From then on, if it's a sunny day, the house warms up very quickly. Due to the excellent insulation and double glazing, the house retains this heat well into the evening. As I spend my evenings in the loft upstairs, I often don't need to turn on the heater, as the warmth is retained in that elevated space. Cold rainy days are a different story in winter; I may run the heater for most of the day.
In summer I still don't receive sunlight in the living areas of the house until midday. Once the sun strikes the front-facing rooms, the house heats up very rapidly. That is when I open doors and windows to allow as much air flow as possible. Cross draughts are possible downstairs in the living space, with doors at the front and a window directly opposite. Upstairs in the loft windows are placed front and back for optimum air flow. A ceiling fan also helps with air movement and flow.
On really hot sunny days sitting out on the deck can be too intense. I would love some sort of shade or cover for the deck - an option for the future.
In conclusion, I am very happy living in a tiny house. I chose it partly because it is the most affordable housing option, but I am also committed to the tiny house movement. It’s not for everyone, and depending on various factors can require a number of adjustments to lifestyle and day-to-day tasks. However, most of all, I love living in a dwelling that I designed specifically for my lifestyle, tastes and values.
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