It’s likely you’ve heard the buzz around the tiny house trend. This new idea in home ownership takes the typical 2,600 square foot American home and whittles it down to a mere 100-400 square foot space.
But that’s not to say that these homes are without modern conveniences. The cozy spaces are equipped with kitchens, living spaces and bathrooms, as well as vital utilities like heat, electrical and plumbing systems.
So how do tiny homes balance affordability, energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal? Well, this all comes back to the innovation behind the design.
As we’ll showcase here, Viega has a hand in making these unique homes a reality. In this case, it was Viega PureFlow® that had a significant impact...
How Viega PureFlow Advanced a Tiny Home Build & Design
When the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) decided to sponsor the Tiny House Competition, their goals were clear. They wanted to find a meaningful way to promote solar technology, sustainable building techniques, energy awareness and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture and Math) development in young adults.
To do this, they invited collegiate teams throughout the Sacramento region to design and build a tiny net-zero, solar home.
Given the focus of the Center for the Built Environment (CBE), a UC Berkeley-sponsored scientific research partner, it came as no surprise that the university put together a team for the competition. And as a member of the CBE, Viega was eager to collaborate with this group of students and come on board as a sponsor.
Throughout the design and build, Viega offered the students products and loaner tools as well as advice on how to make the best use of their resources. The Viega PureFlow system was especially useful in the entire water system, with tubing used for hot and cold water output, along with the movement of greywater through the recycling system. This recycled and filtered greywater from the kitchen sink and shower was used primarily for landscaping purposes and to water plants.
The tiny house was ultimately a successful venture, with the UC Berkeley team finishing second in the competition. They also received additional awards for water conservation, sustainability, home life and best craftsmanship. Each was a testament to the uniqueness and efficiency of the home—an element that Viega systems helped bring to life.
Want to see more examples of Viega systems in innovative designs and builds? You’ll find an assortment in our project profiles section.
