Sustainability Archives

Under Construction: The Green River Small Home by B&B Quality Construction

The Green River Small Home Built by B&B Quality Construction, a division of B&B Micro Manufacturing, Inc. Built on-site on a foundation (not on wheels) Small footprint at 16′ x 20′ plus a porch Kitchen, bathroom and living room downstairs Stairs up to sleeping loft B&B Quality Construction builds homes and other buildings on-site with […]

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What does it mean to live off-grid?

Lifestyle, Sustainability / By Rick Porco

Off-grid living has been growing in popularity in recent years. There are different interpretations of what off-grid living is; however, generally, 0ff-grid living implies that where you live is not connected to the electrical grid. This means that people that live off-grid must use some form of renewable energy if they wish to have electricity.

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What are Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and do I need them in my Tiny House?

Building / By Rick Porco

What Do HRVs Do For The Air Quality In My Tiny House? Do I need one in my tiny house? The tiny houses built by B&B Tiny Houses are well insulated and sealed. This works great for keeping the inside warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but it means the air inside

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Planning Board Meeting Recap: Backyard Cottages in Williamstown, MA?

Zoning / By Rick Porco

Williamstown, MA had its planning board meeting last night, discussing whether to allow backyard cottages and second apartments to homes in certain zones of town. It was a full house, with others who couldn’t get seats standing in the hallway. In the photo, Amy Jeschawitz, Chair of the Planning Board, sits under the town flag,

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Recap: Meeting on Backyard Tiny Houses in Great Barrington, MA

Zoning / By Rick Porco

Last week’s public hearing in Great Barrington, MA addressed using tiny houses on wheels as backyard cottages. (If you haven’t already seen it or need a refresher, refer back to this blog post). After the meeting, I spoke with Jonathan Hankin who is the president of the Planning Board. Here’s his recap: The meeting was

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Are Composting Toilets Allowed in Massachusetts?

Building, Sustainability, Zoning / By Rick Porco

Composting toilets and greywater systems can be a great solution for how to deal with waste water. But are you allowed to use them on your own land in MA? Spoiler alert: Like pretty much every code, there’s not a single easy answer that applies everywhere. According to mass.gov, for residential homes: “Title 5 (310

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A Look Inside B&B’s Resideo Tiny Smart Home with Honeywell Home Tech

B&B Products / By Rick Porco

We’ve built a Tiny Smart Home using tech from Resideo, Honeywell‘s new spinoff which goes public today. The Tiny Smart Home is right outside the New York Stock Exchange where Resideo rang the bell this morning, showing off Resideo’s smart home technology. “As Resideo rings in a new era as an independent company and begins trading

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Why Tiny Houses Can Be for Almost Anyone

Lifestyle / By Rick Porco

Who should own a tiny house? Tiny houses have risen in popularity over the years, and there’s a good reason for this: tiny houses offer many perks that will appeal to almost anyone. Tiny houses are economical, sustainable, and can even be a great investment or supplementary source of income. Baby Boomers We’ve had

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All About Composting Toilets

Building, Design, Lifestyle, Sustainability / By Rick Porco

Composting toilet Composting toilets are the best option for those wishing to live sustainability and off-grid. Composting toilets will cost more upfront and will require additional steps; however, they also save water, energy, and waste can be recycled as fertilizer. Good quality composting toilets are relatively odorless. Most of the toilets will have a fan

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Grid-Tied vs. Off-Grid Solar Power in Tiny Homes

Building, Design, Lifestyle, Sustainability / By Rick Porco

Picking the Best Solar Power Option Many tiny home owners chose to adopt the minimalist lifestyle in order to live more sustainably. Solar panels offer a great form of renewable energy, but there are many considerations that you will need to keep in mind before you decide if solar power is the right option for

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