User:Marta.tkachuk/sandbox

Article Evaluation (Alexandr Solzhenitsyn)

Evaluating Content


 * 1) Everything written in this article is to the point and very informative.
 * 2) There is plenty of valid information, there is no need to add anything.

Evaluating Tone


 * 1) This reads like a biography; the tone is very neutral.
 * 2) All the viewpoints are clear cut; there is nothing redundant on this page.

Evaluating Sources


 * 1) All of the linked sources work and provide on-topic information. All of the citations are organized carefully in the bibliography at the bottom of the page.
 * 2) Some quoted material isn't cited until the end of the paragraph, but the citations are still there.

Checking the Talk Page


 * 1) Only 2 people contributed to the talk page. One mentions how the quotes provided from the Harvard Speech couldn't be found in the speech itself. The other individual is a bit more harsh, criticizing the writers use of a source that claims a Jewish man by the name of Niftily Frenkel created the prison system of Russia.
 * 2) The article rates as C-Class and it is not part of any WikiProjects but the talk page mentions that it could be "of interest" to some.

 Topic of Choice: Tiny Homes and the Environment

Sources:


 * https://www.planetforward.org/webisode/tiny-house-big-impact-getting-green-by-building-less
 * https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2015/tiny-houses-are-becoming-a-big-deal.html
 * https://www.councilfire.org-
 * https://greenfuture.io/sustainable-living/tiny-houses-sustainable-living/
 * https://apps.carleton.edu/ujhs/assets/charlie_kilman_tinyhouses__4_.pdf
 * https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=4196241&fileOId=4196242

Citation Exercise:

This sentence was included in the article but not cited:

"The financial crisis of 2007–08 fueled the growth of the small house movement."

Outline for Tiny House Movement
Heading: Environmental Impacts of the Tiny House Movement

Sub-Heading 1: Architecture


 * Materials that the homes are made of
 * Pricing of the homes

Sub-Heading 2: Size of homes


 * How the size of the houses effect the energy usage
 * The small spaces require less consumption

Sub-Heading 3: Mobility


 * How the mobility of the house effects the energy intake from ground resources
 * How mobility can benefit owner is times of environmental crisis

Environmental Impact of Tiny Homes


Size of Homes

Tiny homes range typically between one hundred and four hundred square feet; the size will fluctuate depending on the owner. Considering the small size of tiny homes in comparison to average sized homes, the energy costs are invariably smaller; moreover, tiny homes power grids are typically sourced from solar panels which decreases the amount of energy necessary for sustainability. Thus, the difference in energy emissions between a tiny home and average sized home notably varies. While a tiny home is sustained to operate on 914 kilowatts a year, producing on average 1,144 pounds of carbon dioxide, an average size required 12,733 kilowatts which releases close to 16,000 pounds.

Consequently, tiny homes intrinsically need to consume less energy to support the homeowner while simultaneously requiring fewer materialistic items. The limited space of a tiny home requires that owners sacrifice the idea of abundant materialism; it allows for the revaluation of personal habits and therefore translates into awareness surrounding environmental sourcing. The concept of a “tiny” home translates to all aspects; a minimized space is capable of encompassing the bare minimum, from less surface area, fewer physical items and less energy consumption.

Environmentally Conscious Design

Human beings have been the main contributor in recent environmental changes. One critical proponent of these changes relates to infrastructure; buildings affect both human beings and the environment, however the costs tend to lie within the environment while the benefits are exclusive to humans. Also, the intention of building new infrastructure is for it to be sustainable for a long period of time. As a result, the less environmentally intentional a facility, the more it will depends on consumption of natural resources. “Part of the very definition of a tiny home is that it be constructed with environmentally conscious and renewable materials.” Most tiny homes are designed to receive their services in ways that are less environmentally exhaustible. Electrical grids and public utilities are a distinguishable way tiny homes could receive various services, from water and sewage. This detail is critical for consideration when individuals move from average sized homes to tiny homes because it allows individuals both, save money while using less environmental resources. Another important environmentally conscious feature relates to toilets. Some tiny homes are equipped with incinerator toilets which get rid of waste by burning it rather than flushing. By eliminating toilet flushing, the amount of water used in a household significantly decreases. An alternative feature is a compost toilet which works by decomposing the waste which also relies on evaporation to remove the waste. Therefore, not only are tiny homes energy efficient, the makeup of these homes are also intended to be environmentally friendly. In order for new materials to be utilized in construction, they require chemicals in order to sustain the materials for long period of time; this added step takes an extra resources from the environment. An alternative to this is the usage of recycled materials which reduces the need for added chemicals because the process has already occured; for example, the tiny homes designed by a group in Texas, consciously avoid using new materials in their construction. Bearing in mind the fact that human beings expend between 30-40% of all energy, infrastructure is best fit to include the consumption of human beings within it's blueprints.

Those individuals who live in tiny homes are directly connected to the environment primarily because of the vicinity between tiny homes and nature. Through such constant contact, the homeowner is given the opportunity to better understand the functions of nature, and this understanding allows for an increase in environmental awareness.

More so, the design of tiny homes are subject to individual modification; the style, level of sustainability, intricacy, materials used, and modifications are all determined by homeowner preferences.

Environment and Homelessness

Homelessness is a critical issue in the United States. According to The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, about five-hundred and fifty thousand individuals were homeless on one given night in 2018. Over half of those individuals were able to sleep in different types of shelters while roughly thirty-five percent were unable to reside in a sheltered area. Despite the little information provided on such an issue in popular media, homelessness has the capacity to affect the environment dramatically. According to Environmental Council of Sacramento, homelessness is a contributor to environmental deterioration. For example, waste [litter, drug paraphernalia, ect.] produced by the homeless accumulates around their living spaces which tend to be near waterways, sewage systems, or parks which contaminates the surrounding ecosystem. This council offers steps towards conserving the environment while simultaneously dealing with the issue of homelessness. These steps include the cleaning of various water systems and public spaces in order to provide both clean water and clean areas for all individuals of the community. One of the steps also includes governmental intervention in establishing sanitary and safe spaces for the homeless in order to prevent further environmental destruction. Luckily, systems for just that are beginning to form though the tiny house movement.

A critical form of combating chronic homelessness is the establishment of tiny house communities. Those behind such establishments aim to help individuals solve their housing problems and offer a space where individuals can connect with other's who find themselves in similar circumstances. Creating these communities requires a variety of support, however the end goal is ultimately shared. The primary actors behind the building and funding of tiny homes for the homeless are non-profit organizations. Their goal is not only to give homeless people a place to live, but also offer them resources to help them in all aspects of their lives. Building communities of tiny homes for the homeless is a group effort involving the homeless, cities themselves, and housing patrons. Though their efforts, the issue of homelessness in itself along with its effects on the environment are being simultaneously dealt with.

Sources


 * https://www.planetforward.org/webisode/tiny-house-big-impact-getting-green-by-building-less
 * https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2015/tiny-houses-are-becoming-a-big-deal.html
 * https://apps.carleton.edu/ujhs/assets/charlie_kilman_tinyhouses__4_.pdf
 * https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=4196241&fileOId=4196242
 * Marina, S. R. (2018, Nov 25). First residents move into tiny homes aimed at combating homelessness. TCA Regional News Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/docview/2137509523?accountid=10358
 * Alexander, L. T. (2017). Tiny homes for the homeless: A return to politically engaged community economic development law? Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law, 26(1), 39-42. Retrieved from http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/docview/2058258047?accountid=10358
 * https://www.ecosacramento.net/2018/01/homelessness-is-an-environmental-issue/
 * https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2018-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
 * https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/44599/Impacts-of-Homelessness-in-Olympia