Topics Survey Results


As part of preparing for our planned "Tiny House Summit" online event, we sent a survey in the late summer (2016) to 900+ individuals and organizations that we identified as being in the tiny house arena, and received over 100 responses, with lots of great detail. One of the questions we asked was "What topics would you want to be sure were covered in an online tiny house summit?" 

We've taken those responses and tried to categorize them by topic. This was a little subjective, as some topics clearly span multiple categories; however, it is helping us to get a good idea of what those in the industry think the primary topics for our summit might be. Where there was more than one suggestion of a topic, the tally of responses for that topic is in parentheses.

  • MAIN TINY HOUSE THEMES

    • Finance & Affordability

      • Millennial Housing

      • Tiny as economic reality and/or rational choice (3)

        • Temporary/Permanent Choice

      • Lending/Financing (10)

      • Insurance (5)

      • Buy/Hire a builder or DIY (2)

        • Cost

        • What NOT to do/buy/get and Why (2)

        • Sweat equity investment - achieving high performance affordable housing

      • Saving Money During Build

      • Resources/Finding Land (2)

    • Environmental

      • Sustainability (3)

      • Housing in remote/cold climate areas (2)

      • Materials/Local sourcing (4)

        • Upcycling - using recycled materials (4)

        • Organic (natural - clay, stone, etc.)

        • Design in housing materials (2)

        • Products and services

      • "Healthy Tiny Interiors" (No VOC materials/proper ventilation/mold prevention) (2)

        • Air quality and toxicity

        • Moisture Control

        • Chemicals and sensitivity

      • Energy Efficiency/Water/Waste (9)

      • Conservative Energy Design (2)

        • On-Grid

        • Off-Grid (2)

          • Solar (4)

          • Generator

          • Micro-hydro, and/or wind power systems

        • Responsibilities of living with your own power source/components

    • Lifestyle / Philosophical

      • Simple living

        • Keeping it Simple - Minimalism (5)

        • Debt Reduction

        • Freedom (3)

      • Mobility

        • Living/Working/Interacting when on Road (2)

      • DIY (as an ethos)

        • (Macy Miller)

      • What is tiny living really like?

        • Benefits/challenges of living in a tiny house (5)

        • “Reality Check” - realistic use of space

        • 1st world problems - the rest of the world lives tiny

    • Zoning and Regulation

      • Zoning

        • Zoning - how to determine what's legal in your zone (13)

        • Locating best contact on local zoning boards, approaching them in friendly, positive ways

        • Common language (ADU's, backyard cottages, caregiver laws)

      • Parking / Location - Placement for THOW/locating residency (10)

      • RVIA yes or no (2)

      • Legislation/Legalization/Advocacy (how to get conversation started) (8)

        • Where are the laws being changed to suit and how?

        • National committee providing education on national level

      • Permits (2)

      • Inspection (2)

      • Building Codes/Standards (16)

        • Building/Zoning for ecological-friendly living

        • NOAH meeting National Standards

    • Design (9)

      • Defining Tiny vs. Small

      • Plans

        • Working with Architect

        • Weight distribution (transportation)

      • The differences between tiny houses and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) (2)

        • Advantages/Disadvantages of each

      • Wheels vs foundation (4)

        • Feasibility/Affordability/Long-Term Benefits

        • SIPs

      • Toilets/Heaters (4)

        • Toilets - Gray water, black water, water in the winter

        • Tankless hot water heaters

        • Wood-Burning stove vs Mini-Stack/Propane

      • Cooking/Baking (2)

      • Techniques (4)

        • Useful/practical stacked functions

        • Beauty

        • Comfort

        • Aerodynamics

      • Landscape Architecture

      • Technology for smaller spaces: refrigerator/tv/convection oven/lighting

    • Building Quality and Standards

      • Certification (2)

      • Construction (5)

      • Durability (2)

      • Design/Building - Do's and Dont’s (4)

        • Structural Integrity/Rules

        • Screws vs. Nails

        • Framing  (2)

        • Roofing (2)

        • Cladding

        • Windows

        • Systems

        • Air sealing, weight and insulation

      • TH Building Checklist (2)

      • Tool-sharing/Skill-sharing Opportunities

      • "Building Tiny Safely" (ventilation systems/fire-tested materials/online smoke detection) (4)

      • Trailers

        • Picking a trailer (4)

        • Proper Trailers Dimensions and Weights

          • DOT safety (2)

    • Owner as Builder

      • Learning from others who built their own

        • Finding owner-builders / More on “Who” is building them

      • Workshops - when and which to attend

    • Business

      • Builders (2)

      • How to start a tiny house business

        • Can we build alliances and businesses together? How? Who?

      • Air B&B/Rental of TH

      • Holding Tiny House Events

    • Education

      • Tiny House Design and Building classes (3)

      • Ways to involve organizations

      • Tiny House building as student projects

    • Transportation

      • Towing your Tiny (3)

      • Transportation options

  • RELATED TOPICS

    • Other Small / Alternatives to Stick-built Tiny House (2)

      • Cob building, Hemp

      • Container homes - conversions, challenges

      • Skoolies

      • Mobile Home Conversions

      • Sheepwagons

        • Design/construction

    • Societal Issues

      • Homelessness Solutions

      • Affordable/Accessible for Low-Income

      • Diversity

    • Cooperative Living/Community (8)

      • Tiny, Sustainable Villages (4)

      • Intentional Communities

      • Who has been successful in developing communities and how?

    • Food

      • Permaculture
      • Agriculture/Food (2)

    •  Other:

      • Accessibility, supply/demand, Benefits of tiny life, Available certifications. Construction details

      • Diversity/Broadening the narrative: stories from people outside the stereotypical young, white, overly educated tiny housers

      • Future estimation of movement, politics (2)

      • National/Global Outreach

        • Ways to involve organizations, helping to grow the movement

        • Where is the movement nationally and globally (2)

      • What do we WANT it to look like in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years and how can we get there

      • How do folks find related employment to grow this new industry

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