Michael Bartz is someone who has taken climate resilience to heart by building and living in his own tiny home.
Walking the Talk: 5 Questions with Michael Bartz
1. Tell me about your tiny house? My tiny house is a 16.25 sq metres (175 sq ft) off-grid home with a shed-style roof, a black metal and cedar exterior with a primarily white interior for a modern design feel. It is powered by solar, which is mounted to the roof on a hinging system to better track the sun. It has a bedroom loft, a living room that converts to a queen-sized guest bed, and a galley-style kitchen with countertops made from recycled hardwood from the farm we live on.
2. How and why did you get started? Around 2016 I was in my late twenties and starting a new phase of my life. At this time I was exploring big questions about what my life might look like, and what my priorities would be. Part of this included walking my talk when it came to trying to lower my environmental footprint. I always wanted to build my own house and when I found out about tiny homes, I felt that this was the best way to accomplish both things.
3. What has been your biggest challenge? Since I built everything myself (including the trailer it sits on), the biggest challenge was just finishing the build. It may be a tiny home, but there was a lot of thought and sweat equity that went into it. It took me four years (3 part-time, 1 full-time). I was learning as I went along since I had never built an entire house before (which is probably why it took so long). There were times of self-doubt and frustration, but in the end it was one of my biggest accomplishments and I couldn’t be happier.
4. What’s your best tip for someone who might be considering a tiny house? It’s easy to think that to live in a tiny house you must become a minimalist, giving up certain comforts and all your material possessions. While you may need to downsize, it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. In this respect, I would encourage people to think beyond the house itself. Part of the motivation to live tiny was to get out of the house and into the community. Read books at the public library, work out at a gym, go to a painting studio etc. You also don’t need to fit everything you own in 16.25 sq metres. Doing this will free up space in your home and is another way to lower your environmental footprint.
5. What’s one wish you have for Lethbridge when it comes to climate resilience? I would like to see alternative housing being a larger focus when we’re looking at climate resilience. We need to think beyond just insulating your home or adding solar modules. Not everyone can afford that, let alone owning a home in the first place. We need to get more creative in our housing to be more inclusive in our efforts to be more climate-resilient.
For me, it comes back to the community because strong communities make for more climate-resilient cities. When you know your neighbour, when you are using public services, or when you’re volunteering you’re more likely to care, to have your voice heard and to make connections that could lead to meaningful change.