Last week I talked about how to live simply and decrease your carbon footprint living in a tiny house. Even better than buying a tiny house is making your own, and Michael Janzen is blazing a trail with his free tiny pallet house. Not only is his house made out of recycled shipping pallets, it isn’t costing him anything to build. And lucky for us, he’s sharing his plans so you too can build your own tiny free house.
You can save money, sharpen your DIY skills, and further decrease your environmental impact by following Janzen’s example of building a free pallet house.
Keep pallets out of landfills
Here are some disturbing statistics about shipping pallets:
- Approximately 40% of all hardwood harvested in the U.S. is for making shipping pallets
- About two-thirds of pallets are used only once before being thrown out
- 1/4 of all wood in landfills is from used pallets
You can help prevent deforestation and keep pallets out of landfills by finding creative alternative uses for them, like building a house. Pallets can be found everywhere. Once you start looking for them, you’ll see them scattered all over your town or city.
Contact a local warehouse, supermarket, or any business that receives large shipments, and get permission to pick up their used pallets. Most companies are happy to give their pallets away.
Plans for a free pallet house
Janzen has made plans for building a free pallet house available on his website. These plans are a guide for building what he calls a disaster preparedness and emergency shelter. Janzen says:
As hurricane Gustav plowed across Cuba headed for the gulf coast of the United States memories of Katrina and the potential displacement of thousands got me thinking. I wanted to do something to help. It occurred to me that someone else might find what I now about building with shipping pallets useful in the coming weeks and months.
With some creativity, you may find that shipping pallets can be reappropriated in other ways to build your own free tiny house. For example, I have a friend that has disassembled shipping pallets and used the wood to build roof trusses for his straw bale building.
Ultimately, you can help prevent deforestation and keep pallets out of landfills by using them to build creative housing.
Think tiny and free!
(Image credit: flickr via KGBKitchen)
This kid is awesome!!!
I have developed a VENTED dome shelter out of PVC pipe and TARP. Can I please get some grant or prize money for this idea, so that I may continue to develop the idea. I need to hire seamstresses and buy material to go forward.
I have developed a VENTED dome shelter out of PVC pipe and TARP. Can I please get some grant or prize money for this idea, so that I may continue to develop the idea. I need to hire seamstresses and buy material to go forward.
I can’t believe someone won 10K for a shelter that is not waterproof.
I can’t believe someone won 10K for a shelter that is not waterproof.
I have developed a VENTED dome shelter out of PVC pipe and TARP. Can I please get some grant or prize money for this idea, so that I may continue to develop the idea. I need to hire seamstresses and buy material to go forward.
I can’t believe someone won 10K for a shelter that is not waterproof.
The idea already exists is the world that stupid.
All he did was rebuild something at a smaller scale and rename it and you give him 10,000.What a joke hey kid give the money to homeless if thats what you were concerned about.What a joke.Oh hay I have an invention ats made out of crap and it rolls I call it crappie car.That is stupid …Just about a kid renaming something that exists.Idiots.
Max is an amazing kid!!! He actually has so many other interesting ideas as well. His home dome idea was entered in the 2008 trash to treasure contest at http://www.bkfk.com. BKFK(By Kid For Kids)runs a number of competitions for young adults and innovative kids like Max.
BKFK is now running Best Buy’s “Invent A Game Competition” that challenges kids to come up with ideas for a great online game. Winners get 10K and a chance to have their game produced by EA. Enter your idea and you could be winner like Max! http://www.bkfk.com/games/
Max is an amazing kid!!! He actually has so many other interesting ideas as well. His home dome idea was entered in the 2008 trash to treasure contest at http://www.bkfk.com. BKFK(By Kid For Kids)runs a number of competitions for young adults and innovative kids like Max.
BKFK is now running Best Buy’s “Invent A Game Competition” that challenges kids to come up with ideas for a great online game. Winners get 10K and a chance to have their game produced by EA. Enter your idea and you could be winner like Max! http://www.bkfk.com/games/
Max is an amazing kid!!! He actually has so many other interesting ideas as well. His home dome idea was entered in the 2008 trash to treasure contest at http://www.bkfk.com. BKFK(By Kid For Kids)runs a number of competitions for young adults and innovative kids like Max.
BKFK is now running Best Buy’s “Invent A Game Competition” that challenges kids to come up with ideas for a great online game. Winners get 10K and a chance to have their game produced by EA. Enter your idea and you could be winner like Max! http://www.bkfk.com/games/
This is a cool idea, but you cant stand in it, and how about air circulation. And what happens to the peanuts when baking in the sun all day? Itll turn into melted glue/paste! You have to anchor it down, and it is shaped weird. People would single you out in one of these. You might as well go with a tent.
This is a cool idea, but you cant stand in it, and how about air circulation. And what happens to the peanuts when baking in the sun all day? Itll turn into melted glue/paste! You have to anchor it down, and it is shaped weird. People would single you out in one of these. You might as well go with a tent.
Great job Max! Our world needs a lot more creative & compassionate young people like you. Good luck in everything you do.
Great job Max! Our world needs a lot more creative & compassionate young people like you. Good luck in everything you do.
Great job Max! Our world needs a lot more creative & compassionate young people like you. Good luck in everything you do.
IT’S GREAT TO SEE KIDS AT THAT AGE INVOLVED! I’M GLAD HE IS PART OF OUR WHAT ARE FUTURE LEADERS AND INNOVATIVE MINDS CAN BE! TOOO AWESOME!
IT’S GREAT TO SEE KIDS AT THAT AGE INVOLVED! I’M GLAD HE IS PART OF OUR WHAT ARE FUTURE LEADERS AND INNOVATIVE MINDS CAN BE! TOOO AWESOME!
IT’S GREAT TO SEE KIDS AT THAT AGE INVOLVED! I’M GLAD HE IS PART OF OUR WHAT ARE FUTURE LEADERS AND INNOVATIVE MINDS CAN BE! TOOO AWESOME!
hahaha..egg shelter
hahaha..egg shelter
hahaha..egg shelter
Pretty Cool Idea!!! Instead of having to lift it up to get in and out of it, couldn’t you put hinges or something on one of the bottom hexagons and make a door, And add some string/rope and stakes to it so you can make sure it wouldn’t blow away. What a great way to reuse all those packing peanuts!! I’m assuming you could also stuff it with other things that usually wind up in landfills, such as plastic bags from grocery stores and the like as well. Way to Go Max!!!
Pretty Cool Idea!!! Instead of having to lift it up to get in and out of it, couldn’t you put hinges or something on one of the bottom hexagons and make a door, And add some string/rope and stakes to it so you can make sure it wouldn’t blow away. What a great way to reuse all those packing peanuts!! I’m assuming you could also stuff it with other things that usually wind up in landfills, such as plastic bags from grocery stores and the like as well. Way to Go Max!!!
Pretty Cool Idea!!! Instead of having to lift it up to get in and out of it, couldn’t you put hinges or something on one of the bottom hexagons and make a door, And add some string/rope and stakes to it so you can make sure it wouldn’t blow away. What a great way to reuse all those packing peanuts!! I’m assuming you could also stuff it with other things that usually wind up in landfills, such as plastic bags from grocery stores and the like as well. Way to Go Max!!!
that didn’t look like trash to me.
that didn’t look like trash to me.
I heard that his new home made from garbage was foreclosed.
I heard that his new home made from garbage was foreclosed.
I think it’s pretty silly to rail on a company or individual’s “green” projects by pointing out that their other activities are not “green.” Ragging on them for improving their environmental footprint is not going to encourage improvement in this arena. Frankly, I think your little list is despicable, no matter what level of humor you intended.
I came up with a design that is similar for the homeless as well. I called it the OSP or (outdoor sleeping pod) my idea is completely collapsible shaped like a sleeping bag but you can actually fit a sleeping bag in it so it acts as a shell. I have also introduced LED technology I got the idea from the flash lights you wind up. My idea has a small Led head lamp with a small heater coil as well as emergency radio that all operates from crank technology. I have also added a small crank voltage security system that acts as a low voltage cow prod fence. I would be very interested in seeing the two ideas combined to lower the cost and remain enviromentally safe. I am glad to see others that have a concern for the less fortunate thanks for the story it was very uplifting!
I came up with a design that is similar for the homeless as well. I called it the OSP or (outdoor sleeping pod) my idea is completely collapsible shaped like a sleeping bag but you can actually fit a sleeping bag in it so it acts as a shell. I have also introduced LED technology I got the idea from the flash lights you wind up. My idea has a small Led head lamp with a small heater coil as well as emergency radio that all operates from crank technology. I have also added a small crank voltage security system that acts as a low voltage cow prod fence. I would be very interested in seeing the two ideas combined to lower the cost and remain enviromentally safe. I am glad to see others that have a concern for the less fortunate thanks for the story it was very uplifting!
I think it is sweet that someone as young as him cares.
Go Max!
I heard that his new home made from garbage was foreclosed.
I think it’s pretty silly to rail on a company or individual’s “green” projects by pointing out that their other activities are not “green.” Ragging on them for improving their environmental footprint is not going to encourage improvement in this arena. Frankly, I think your little list is despicable, no matter what level of humor you intended.
I came up with a design that is similar for the homeless as well. I called it the OSP or (outdoor sleeping pod) my idea is completely collapsible shaped like a sleeping bag but you can actually fit a sleeping bag in it so it acts as a shell. I have also introduced LED technology I got the idea from the flash lights you wind up. My idea has a small Led head lamp with a small heater coil as well as emergency radio that all operates from crank technology. I have also added a small crank voltage security system that acts as a low voltage cow prod fence. I would be very interested in seeing the two ideas combined to lower the cost and remain enviromentally safe. I am glad to see others that have a concern for the less fortunate thanks for the story it was very uplifting!
I think it is sweet that someone as young as him cares.
Go Max!
Isn’t Chicago called the windy city? I can only imagine seeing about 50 of those homeless shelters blowing down the street like giant tumbleweeds.
Isn’t Chicago called the windy city? I can only imagine seeing about 50 of those homeless shelters blowing down the street like giant tumbleweeds.
Isn’t Chicago called the windy city? I can only imagine seeing about 50 of those homeless shelters blowing down the street like giant tumbleweeds.
ofmg!
dat was fucking awsome!!!!!!
that is so nice to see . A father helping his son .In helping our Earth ,Thank you for being a DAD .And be proud of him this is great Thank you
ofmg!
dat was fucking awsome!!!!!!
That’s great! Way to go. I hope to see these everywhere. Small, cheap, mobile and easy to assemble and store; what more could you want.
That kid gives me confidence in the next generation.
That’s great! Way to go. I hope to see these everywhere. Small, cheap, mobile and easy to assemble and store; what more could you want.
That kid gives me confidence in the next generation.
you made something that is useless
yeah ,nothing in this world can be regards as waste as one of the saying said; someone ignorance is somebody enlightment. so i congratulate the creativity mind people who make use of their God given talent ,skill to spend time to venture into such activities rather than stay idol(doing nothing)i for cast more on developing country as iam from Solomon islands and i see many waste stuff but not many creative/innovate people.people seem to live on spoon feed.so i really appreciate this as it my first time to browse this site.Congratulation it is what all can engage in each individual life whatever you can do ,thanks
yeah ,nothing in this world can be regards as waste as one of the saying said; someone ignorance is somebody enlightment. so i congratulate the creativity mind people who make use of their God given talent ,skill to spend time to venture into such activities rather than stay idol(doing nothing)i for cast more on developing country as iam from Solomon islands and i see many waste stuff but not many creative/innovate people.people seem to live on spoon feed.so i really appreciate this as it my first time to browse this site.Congratulation it is what all can engage in each individual life whatever you can do ,thanks
i think you’re making news out of nothing
i think you’re making news out of nothing