Small, compact portable home is solar-powered

Olympia woman shrinks her footprint — to 84 square feet

by Breanne Coats www.TheOlympian.com


OLYMPIA — Everyone would like to have more time and money; Dee Williams of Olympia achieves that by living in a home the size of a child’s treehouse.

In her effort to help the environment, Williams built and moved into an 84-square-foot house.

“I love my little home,” said Williams, 44.

Williams chose to sell her 1,500-square foot home in Portland about two and a half years ago. After returning from a trip in Guatemala, she said she felt weird spending money and time on a house when there are others who have so little.

After researching small houses and sustainable living, she decided it was time to move.

Williams’ brother, Doug, 39, of Iowa, at first thought his sister was “a little bit crazy” for wanting a little home, but now he’s envious.

“Having a smaller impact on the planet is something a lot of people are talking about... Dee’s been living it,” Doug Williams said.

When Dee Williams started this “experiment,” she wanted her house to be as green as possible. So it was built using many salvaged products. She used second-hand wood, a flat-bed trailer and doors from a Dumpster and boat.

She used shredded blue jeans for some of the insulation. It must work: she said she spends about $6 a month for heat in the winter and less in the summer.

All of her electricity is supplied by two solar panels, an inverter and a big battery. She has a small propane tank for heat and cooking. She also uses a composting toilet, because she does not have running water.

The home looks like a log cabin inside and out. She optimizes space with a folding table and hidden drawers. She climbs a ladder to get to her bedroom, which is more like a loft with a skylight.

The $10,000 house on wheels usually is located in Hugh O’Neill’s and Annie McManus’ backyard in west Olympia.

“I know the backyard is where I belong,” Williams said. “Right now, it’s where I want to be.”

Williams depends on the hospitality of O’Neill, McManus and their neighbor, O’Neill’s aunt, Rita Harrigan. Williams takes showers at their houses and gets water from them.

“It’s very humbling and very life giving,” Williams said. “I want to give stuff back.”

With the carpentry skills she learned from building her little home, she has helped O’Neill, McManus and Harrigan with daily chores and remodeling projects.

Williams said having a small house has caused her to take more notice about what she buys. For example, instead of buying books, she gets them from the library, and she tries to buy locally grown food.

She said breaking from the mold and living in a small home reflects her values.

“It’s empowering,” she said. “Maybe for the first time I brought that sense of profound intention to my life.”

Williams said she has enjoyed having extra money so she can donate to charities. She also said she has more time because she only needs to work part time as an ecologist.

Williams does not expect everyone to live in a small house. She said living that way makes her feel good, but she knows happiness comes to others differently.

“Look at your own choices and figure out what works for you,” Williams said. “All of a sudden I have this money, and I have time available. It’s this enormous gift.”

Breanne Coats is a news intern for The Olympian. She