Tiny Home Blog

Affordable Housing, Simple Living

Home » Blog » The environmental impact of tiny homes and ADUs

The environmental impact of tiny homes and ADUs

Tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are often touted as more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional houses. While it’s true that these smaller structures can have a lower environmental impact in certain cases, it’s important to consider the full range of factors that contribute to the environmental footprint of tiny homes and ADUs.

Energy efficiency

One of the main environmental benefits of tiny homes and ADUs is their potential for energy efficiency. These smaller structures often have lower energy needs than larger houses, which can translate into lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. To maximize energy efficiency, tiny homes and ADUs should be well-insulate and equippe with energy-efficient appliances and lighting.

Materials

The materials used to build tiny homes and ADUs can also have an impact on the environment. Choosing eco-friendly materials such as sustainably harvested wood or recycled steel can help reduce the environmental impact of your tiny home or ADU. On the other hand, materials such as concrete and asphalt can have a larger environmental footprint due to the energy required to produce them.

Transportation

The transportation of tiny homes and ADUs can also have an environmental impact. If you choose to have your tiny home or ADU built off-site and then transported to your property, the transportation emissions may offset some of the energy savings of the smaller structure.

Land use

The land use associated with tiny homes and ADUs is another factor to consider. In some cases, building a tiny home or ADU on an existing piece of land can be more environmentally friendly than developing a new piece of land for a larger house. On the other hand, if a tiny home or ADU is built on land that was previously undeveloped, it can have an environmental impact due to the disturbance of natural habitats and ecosystems.

Water usage

The water usage of tiny homes and ADUs can also have an environmental impact. Depending on where you live, you may need to install a septic system or connect to a public water and sewage system. Both of these options have environmental implications, and it’s important to consider the long-term water usage and conservation potential of your tiny home or ADU.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the environmental impact of tiny homes and ADUs can vary widely depending on a range of factors. To minimize their environmental footprint, it’s important to consider issues such as energy efficiency, materials, transportation, land use, and water usage. By making informed decisions and choosing eco-friendly options whenever possible, you can help ensure that your tiny home or ADU has a positive impact on the environment.

Find your dream tiny home today at Snake River Tiny Homes. Their simple, turn-key process makes it easy to design, build and finance the perfect tiny house, or container home. To get started, schedule a call with one of their tiny home specialists. You will be glad you did.

best tiny homes, luxury tiny homes for sale, Sustainability, tiny homes as seen on HGTV, tiny homes on wheels for sale

Excellent

Snake River Tiny Homes

5.0

Based on 87 reviews

See all reviews

Barry Dutton

Porter is very friendly and knowledgeable. Great service.

Response from the owner: Thank you Barry. I appreciate you and your wife touring our models.

julie Vander Stoep

We looked at 3 models.All were exciting. Made for any type of use.Sturdy. Current, modern decoration… counters. Air and heat. Insulation. Well built.Even have a washer and dryer combo!I love that.Was enjoyable to envision all the possibilities.Was a nice visit. Comfortable. And kind.Thank you,Julie Vander Stoep

Response from the owner: Thanks Julie, It was great that you visited us. We really appreciate it. We’re glad you liked them.

Emily Durden

I want a snake river tiny home!....one day...

Response from the owner: Thank you, Emily. Short but sweet review. Hopefully we can get you a tiny home.... one day. LOL

Carol Stowell

All our questions were answered. A quality product.

Response from the owner: Thank you, Carol. We appreciate you stopping by.

Ammie Page

You won’t find anyone better to work with!

Response from the owner: Thank you Ammie. We appreciate your kind words.

Lisa Morales

EXCELLENT customer service! Quality tiny homes. I was very impressed. If you’re interested in professional service, quality, and structurally sound construction this is the place to get your home!

Response from the owner: Thank you, Lisa. That was quite the review. We are very thankful you visited us.

Nick Rice

Porter was very helpful and knowledgeable. I am so glad that we stopped and looked at the homes. Very high quality homes and we can’t wait to buy one.

Response from the owner: Thanks Nick. We’re really glad you like them.

Justin Ryan

Response from the owner: Thank you Justin. That was kind of you.

Mr Nouman

I highly Recommended Great Prices and Services. Thank You

Response from the owner: Thank you Mr. Nouman for the nice review. I am glad you liked our tiny homes.

Kevin Ringel

I enjoyed seeing the tiny homes and the different floor plans. Mr Talbot was very good to answers questions.

Response from the owner: Thank you for the nice comments. We’re glad you liked them.

Bonnie Allen

I appreciated the time Mr. Talbot took to give me a tour of his beautiful tiny houses. I was impressed that he is selling a very good, quality product. From the time he spent with me, I believe he would be helpful with financing, customization, or any other requests. It is nice to have this housing option here locally to benefit those who may need it!

Response from the owner: Thank you, Bonnie. We really appreciate your coming to tour our models. We’re glad you liked them.

Annika Baird

Very nice and knowledgeable! Great to work with!

Response from the owner: Thank you Annika. We appreciate you taking the time to visit us.

Nancy Pivik

Porter was very helpful. He answered lots of questions and gave us ideas for options.

Response from the owner: Thank you very much, Nancy. We are thankful we could help you in your quest for a tiny home.

S G

Porter was very professional and helpful. He answered our questions and showed us several tiny homes. Snake River Tiny Homes is a great source for tiny home living.

Response from the owner: Thanks for taking the time to tour our dealership and view our tiny houses and container homes. We appreciate your kind words.

Mindy Chadwick

Porter was so helpful in researching the best solution for our family. He went above and beyond. The tiny houses looked well made and very functional! I would recommend this place in a heart beat to anyone wanting the tiny house life!

Response from the owner: Thanks, Mindy. It was great meeting with you and your husband.

Aaron Chadwick

Very professional! The model homes were done well and they were very informative.

Response from the owner: We appreciate the nice comment Aaron. We’re glad you liked them.

Ivy Ryan

Response from the owner: We appreciate your review, Ivy.

Debbie Allen Gates

Mr. Porter Talbot was very knowledgeable as well as courteous. The tiny homes we walked through were all very nice and offered a variety of options. The high quality of construction was evident; the design and layout were well thought out. Porter offered numerous ideas based on our comments so there is a lot of customizing available. If you're considering moving to a tiny home, a visit to Snake River Tiny Homes is time well invested.

Response from the owner: Thank you Debbie. It was nice to meet you. We’re glad you liked our tiny homes.

Jim Dufur

Amazing people to deal with and an amazing product

Response from the owner: Thank you Jim. I'm glad you liked the new container homes. We appreciate your interest.

Mike Wood

Porter took us through all the models and spent time with us answering questions and explaining the homes and options.Incredible opportunity that we are very much looking forward to and he was very friendly and helpful.If you are looking for a tiny home for any reason I would definitely recommend Snake River Tiny Homes!

Response from the owner: Thank you Mike. We are glad you like our tiny homes and container homes.

Nick Barron

These are pretty cool little setups and the gentleman working there was very friendly and helpful!!

Response from the owner: We appreciate your kind words. Thanks for touring our tiny home models Nick.

Francisco Palacios

So much good information just a phone call away. The staff is so nice and welcoming, even meeting after hours if necessary. They are very well informed and try to give you as much information as necessary to make business easy.

Response from the owner: Thank you Francisco. You have been great to work with.

julie burgess

It was a dreary winter day at around 4 and Mr Talbot had understandably called it a day but when my Aunt and i showed up he came right back and spent probably an hour talking to us about all manner of details and options never making us feel like an inconvenience or rushing us along. He was very knowledgeable and seemed to take pride in what he sells. I will definitely go back to deal with him.

Response from the owner: Wow, that was nice of you to say, Julie. We are thankful for your interest in our company.

Jimmy Garza

Response from the owner: Thank you Jimmy. That was very nice of you. I’m glad you like our tiny homes.

Carolyn Kollegger

Incredible experience working with Porter on The Elm model. First of all he was reachable meaning we were able to speak with him at the outset when we were strongly interested and had questions and then throughout the whole process. Quick to send additional photos, pics. He was alwayys professional, knowledgeable and kind! Highly recommend!

Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words, Carolyn. It was great to work with you and your husband. We really appreciate your interest.

zara codex

We had an outstanding experience working with Snake River Tiny Homes! As a business, we wholeheartedly endorse Porter and his wife Debbie. They conducted themselves with utmost professionalism, demonstrating exceptional understanding, punctuality, and extensive knowledge. Moreover, they were incredibly informative, ensuring we had all the necessary information to make informed decisions. We enthusiastically recommend their services!

Response from the owner: Thank you Zara for the kind words. It has been great working with you. We appreciate your time.

Nanette Clarke

Response from the owner: Thank you Nanette. We value your opinion.

Tara Gates

Porter was so amazing! He answered so many questions and went out of his way to make sure we could see the tiny homes. He explained everything to us and was very informative! He talked to us about many different personal options that could be added! He was super great to work with! I would highly recommend him to anyone that is looking for a tiny home!

Response from the owner: Wow, Tara.Those are certainly kind words. We are grateful you chose to come visit us. We’re glad you think our tiny homes are well constructed and visually appealing.

Shawna Adams

Toured all the tiny homes. All my questions were answered. The homes are SO well built. Solid and very well layed out. Space is well used. I learned a lot! Salesman so helpful.

Response from the owner: Thank you Shawna. We really appreciate your taking the time to tour our tiny home and container home models. We are so glad you like them.

Braden Hartle

My wife and I took the time to go see some of these small homes. While we walk through them, Porter was very kind. He was very top notch with making sure he explained everything. We are considering buying one of these homes and they would be our go-to if we decide to pull the trigger on one. He was very knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable. Thank you again Porter, and Snake river Tiny Homes.

Response from the owner: Thank you Brayden. We really appreciate you stopping by to tour our models.

Elissa Turpin

We couldn’t have been more pleased and impressed with the service and communication from Snake River Tiny Homes! Porter helped us find the perfect option for our needs and budget and even helped us find options for land as well. The builders they use are high quality with beautiful attention to detail and design to provide you with everything you could want in a tiny home. 100% recommend to anyone interested in alternative ways of living, without sacrificing on beauty and quality.

Response from the owner: Thank you so much Elissa. We are glad you had a good experience with us. Thanks for posting the pictures too.

Eric Buyers

These guys have a great product and are extremely knowledgeable. Shelly has more than answered all my questions and has guided my wife and I. If you have any inclination to look into tiny homes, they are the people to see. Thanks!

Response from the owner: Thank you Eric for your kind words. Shelly does a terrific job. We sincerely appreciate your interest.

christina townsend

A friend and I went to Snake River Tiny Homes to actually see one and I was shocked at how roomy they were and how well built. Down to the R factor in the walls and the snow load conditions for our climate. I was even more impressed with the container home model. For someone who is looking for downsizing or a second home, these should be seriously considered.

Response from the owner: Wow, thank you Christina. We sure are glad you came to see us. We look forward to working with you.

Jeff M

Great owners of this business. I’ve known them for several years. Although I have not purchased a mini/tiny home, I know they will treat their customers right.

Response from the owner: Thank you Jeff. That was kind of you. We appreciate your thoughtfulness.

mou1933

Not only do they offer the most amazing homes but they are genuine awesome people who deeply care about there customers

Response from the owner: Thank you for the nice review. Your kind words are appreciated.

marji price

Tiny homes are a wonderful answer to skyrocketing housing costs - for first time buyers, retirees, and investors. Snake River Tiny Homes is carefully selecting only the best homes and builders for their inventory. Adorable showroom and well conceived homes. Porter knows his stuff!Marjorie Price of Country Cottages, RexburgA small home community

Response from the owner: Thank you Marji. Country Cottages is a great option for people buying tiny homes.

Erica Mouser

These tiny homes are so beautiful. The detail and design of the space is incredible. I liked the variety each home has as to offer. Nice to see this company in Eastern Idaho for families looking for a new tiny home.

Response from the owner: Thank you Erica. We look forward to helping to provide affordable housing.

Josh Carlson

Response from the owner: Thanks Josh. We’re glad you were pleased.

Josh Stokes

They have some cool homes, very helpful!

Response from the owner: We are thankful you came to tour our container homes, Josh. We welcome your interest.

Kaydee Wood

The tiny homes were gorgeous! Mr. Talbot answered all of our questions and much more! We enjoyed our visit.

Response from the owner: Thank you Kaydee. It was very nice to meet you. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit.

Leslie Ray

Met with Porter today and he was absolutely amazing. Super helpful absolutely amazing personality. Definitely will be buying from him soon.

Response from the owner: Thank you Leslie. That was very kind of you. I look forward to working with you and your husband.

Rick Johnson

I love these tiny homes and the setup at Snake River Tiny Homes is a perfect little spot to showcase them.They are so friendly and easy to work with. They answered all our questions like they actually know what they're talking about. There are so many awesome features about the little homes they sell.

Response from the owner: Thank you Rick. We are starting to offer container homes as well. Your kind words are appreciated.

wayne davis

Nice amenities. Great value

Response from the owner: Thanks Wayne. We’re happy you liked them. We will also have container homes soon.

Joslynne Roberts

Response from the owner: Thanks Joslynne. It was a pleasure working with you.

Tommy Haynes

Superior craftsmanship and attention to detail. These guys think of everything and as a construction professional of 25 years I can say these guys nailed it.

Response from the owner: Tommy, thanks for the review. That means a lot coming from a contractor.

Shelly Miller

These are unique and so beautiful!! Well made down to the smallest detail! The owners are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and SO helpful!! We hope one of these is in our future!!

Response from the owner: Thank you Shelly. We are pleased you like them. We appreciate the compliment.

Dakota Brown

Outlaw Trucking LLC was pleased to do business with Snake River Tiny Homes! We as a business highly recommend Porter and his wife Debbie. They were both professional, very understanding, punctual, knowledgeable and informative.

Response from the owner: Thank you, Dakota. You were great to work with too.

Ryan Kamachi

Mr. Talbot is such an amazing individual! The way someone treats others is a testament to who they are and how they run their business. The homes they offer are beautifully crafted and quality. This is a business where a handshake means something and their word matters.Thanks for being a great addition to the Upper Snake River community!

Response from the owner: Wow, that was sure nice of you to say. We sincerely appreciate you coming to visit our dealership.

Joanne Hansen

The tiny homes are beautiful. We went on a tour of them. Our guide was very informative. We love the thought displayed in the building of then. Thank you.

Response from the owner: Joanne,Thanks for the review. It was great that you could stop by.

Lisa Bird

If you want to be treated fair and deal with honest people….this is the place to go!!! Go take a tour you won’t be disappointed!!!

Response from the owner: Wow, Lisa. We really appreciate your kind words. Thank you for touring our container homes. We're glad you like them.

Showplace

New Location:

Country Cottages 7871 South 400 West, Rexburg, Idaho 83440