TINY OFF-GRID HOUSE SLEEPING LOFTS
Photo courtesy of Magnific
Sleep is not a passive activity; it is a restorative exercise for the mind and body. With the exception of an occasional midday nap (Siesta), it is recommended an individual should obtain a minimum of 7 to 8 consecutive hours of uninterrupted rapid eye movement (REM) sleep each night (Individual differences may exist based on your age, specific situation and needs). Adequate sleep enables a reset, cellular repair & plasticity of the prefrontal cortex region of the brain which is responsible for emotional regulation and executive functions—which prevents anxiety and mood swings. Sleep slows the metabolism and gives the digestive system a rest by fasting; hence the phrase breaking-the-fast = Breakfast. Sleep allows the lymphatic system to flush out metabolic waste from the brain like amyloid beta and tau proteins, often associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These proteins accumulates during hours of activity. Studies have shown chronic sleep deprivation damages the cognitive functions of the brain and contributes to neurodegenerative diseases (stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease) and psychological disorders.
The sleeping loft is a dedicated place of comfort to rest while inside the Tiny Off-Grid House. The cozy sleeping loft provides an environment that facilitates rest away from the daily activities of the kitchen, living and home office spaces of the Tiny Off-Grid House. This therapeutic environment allows the mind & body to honor the circadian rhythm enabling a person to live in harmony within their 24 hour biological cycle.
The sleeping orientation in the sleeping loft can be considered an evolutionary echo from when early humans first slept inside prehistoric caves. The deliberate way we sleep whether in a sleeping loft or in the past in prehistoric caves are a primal survival strategy of sleeping with your back against a protective wall, while cautiously facing the entrance of the loft or cave entrance; respectively. Caves provided early humans shelter from inclement weather, predatory animals and perceived evil spirits. A fire gave the cave a warm, cozy, microclimate while providing a defensive light to see in the darkness.
There are two separate sleeping lofts; the main loft located in the bow, above the office space & Engineering, is capable of accommodating a queen size mattress and other amenities. While the second sleeping loft, or guest loft, is located in the stern above the bathroom & water treatment section. The main sleeping loft is accessible by dedicated stairs that are not challenging for a four-legged animal companion to ascend or descend; while the guest loft utilizes a rolling ladder. As the name implies the lofts are located directly under the shed roof with sufficient head-room for occupants while seated on a mattress; for the average size person.
Each sleeping loft has an awning (aka top-hinged) window that allows natural sunlight in and also serves as a fire egress for the occupants or access for first responders in the event of an fire emergency. A privacy screen also serves to block light from entering the sleeping loft that would normally allow the light receptors in the retinas of our eyes to inform the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in the hypothalamus to influence, by proxy, production of melatonin in the pineal gland of the brain, inhibiting cortisol production that is necessary for alertness. In contrast, light suppresses melatonin production. Melatonin (a hormone) production is triggered by darkness gradually increasing 1 to 3 hours before your scheduled bedtime, reaching its peak in the middle of the night between 3:AM & 4:AM and then gradually declining as sunrise approaches. In the brief timeframe of Human evolution, artificial light: whether by fire light or light bulb, have not freed Humans from the endogenous 24 circadian rhythm tuned to sunrise & sunset. All forms of light exposure (bright light, blue-light emitting screens . . ) should be limited at night. As bedtime gets nearer, warmer, amber toned lights should be selected for the entire house or specifically the sleeping area if using Smart color changing light bulbs. It is recommended to turn-off light screens from smartphones, computers, tablets LED status indicator lights on electronics at least 2 hours before bedtime. Blue light from smart screens mimics daylight interfering with your internal body clock.
In order to maintain indoor air quality, each sleeping loft has a single Lunos e²60 installed perforating through the upper exterior / interior port & stern walls; operating in sequence to provide balanced mechanical ventilation at up to 22 CFM (Spaces under 1000 SF). As one Lunos e²60 introduces fresh filtered outside air the other is evacuating humid indoor air; extracting 20% to 30% humidity from the ambient—winter—air with 85% heat recovery efficiency. The Lunos e²60 is able to “quietly” operate with an internal sound reduction cover which reduces sound by 6 decibels. The internal MERV 13 filter reduces particulate matter 2.5 by up to 90%; the dominant size of particulate from wildfire smoke.
Inaddition to mechanical ventilation air quality in the sleeping loft is bolstered naturally through the use of Snake Plants (Dracaena Trifasciata). Research performed in the 1980’s by the NASA Clean Air Study demonstrated Snake Plant removes volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) like formaldehyde; a chemical that off-gas from common house-hold furniture, carpets, wall paints . . . in to the indoor ambient air. However, unlike most common house plants, the Snake Plant only releases oxygen at night; while in the dark. Photosynthesis allows most plants to absorb energy from sunlight while simultaneously opening their pores, called stomata, to absorb carbon dioxide and release their byproduct Oxygen. While the Snake Plant does rely on photosynthesis during day to absorb energy from sunlight it uses a special crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis (aka CAM Photosynthesis) to keep the stomata closed during the hot daylight hours to avoid water loss. During the day, with no photosynthesis gas exchange, Snake Plants evolved to survive on reserves of acid accumulated during the night when the stomata opened allowing gas exchanges during cooler nightime temperatures. This survival adaptation is useful where the Snake Plant evolved in water scarce regions of West & South Africa. One Snake Plant in a sleeping loft may not be comparable to the efficiency of mechanical ventilation but it does contribute to passive air purifying for the occupants during their sleep at night along with the biophilic benefits on quality-of-life.
NOTE: Snake Plants contain saponins and can be mildly toxic if ingested in sufficient quantities by animal companions. Snake Plants, like most Succulents and Cacti, store water in their succulent leaves and do not tolerate over watering in temperate climates—to prevent root rot. Also, Snake Plants prefer indirect sunlight in contrast to shade or direct sunlight.
FUN FACT: Under perfect conditions, the Snake Plant can produce a bloom. The flowers are white with a greenish tinge that emits a sweet floral fragrance that can fill a room.
Most people would agree a primary tool needed to facilitate a good night sleep is an investment in a comfortable mattress; preferably one that does not contain polyurethane foam or toxic fire retardants; made only with natural fibers. A mattress should not contribute to poor indoor air quality by off gassing VOC’s or the leaching of toxic chemicals on to absorbent skin and clothing.
The mattress brand Avocado is Greenguard Gold Certified for low emissions. Avocado (PETA approved) Vegan Mattress is certified organic and made without animal based products or byproducts tested on animals. Instead of wool, USDA certified organic cotton batting offers softness, is cool and wicks moisture away—great for hot sleepers.
Instead of oil based polyurethane foam, Avocado “mattresses feature GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex (CU 863637) rubber foam” harvested from sustainable farms in Guatemala and India; with fair labor practices. 17th century style craftsmanship eliminates the need for formaldehyde adhesives used to bind the layers together. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and VOC.
According to Avocado, despite the absence of oil based fabrics infused with fire retardant chemicals, their durable vegan mattress meets all federal flammability standards.
Please share your viewpoints or experiences in the Comments section below.
