Sustainable Living
Last week the 'What ISH Post-Capitalism?' festival offered discussions on the future of economics and society, expressed through music, dance and debate. Some issues included doughnut economics, sustainable living, grass-roots activism and climate change.
“Until it’s knocking on my door, I will continue to live my life.” Fair enough.
Scientists agree that the rise in global temperature over the last several decades can be explained by the rise in greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities. However, some people still feel that the existential threat of climate change isn’t real enough for them yet.
One presenter that caught my attention was Marjolein Jonker, a pioneer of the Tiny House movement in the Netherlands. Since 2016, Marjolein in het klein has been living in a self-sufficient Tiny House (20m2) in Alkmaar with her cat Hella. She is passionate about living sustainably and leaving behind a smaller ecological footprint.
Marjolein is part of a wooncoöperatie, a housing cooperative that wants more control over the way they live and manage their living environment. Their core values revolve around affordable, minimalist and simple living in a community committed to expressing Tiny House's residential identity.
Cooperatives arise when the market and institutions cannot meet the needs of certain groups. For Marjolein, the co-op organizes communal facilities and purchases communal services and products necessary for their small community. They manage the land together, and each member is responsible for the purchase and construction of their own Tiny House.
A Spanish sociologist in the crowd pointed out that there are health risks related to living in small spaces. That didn’t seem to affect Marjolein in all her 2.5 years of living in her Tiny House; she seemed genuinely humbled by her living experience. A dancer from Mexico made the point that it was a luxury to be living in a Tiny House in a rich country, as people in her own country don’t have a choice because it’s all they can afford. Fair point. Marjolein made it clear that she was indeed lucky to have the option to pursue this lifestyle, which is not for everyone.
While Marjolein’s presentation was inspiring, I couldn’t help but think of how risky a Tiny House investment might be, especially for young people. Most lenders will not provide a mortgage because they want a dwelling built to code by professionals with a minimum amount of square feet. Where will people get the money upfront to build or buy a Tiny House? They can cost anywhere from 40K upwards. The return on investment might also be next to none. Legal difficulties associated with the Tiny House movement in the Netherlands include land ownership and spatial planning rules and regulations.
No doubt, living in a Tiny House is environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. Time and money can be saved on cleaning too. A Tiny House is a state of mind. We could all live small by adopting a minimalist lifestyle approach. We don’t have to wait until the threat of climate change comes knocking on our door.