Modular Green Home

Modular Homes

Modular home building is one of the fastest-growing segments of the home construction industry. It provides a higher quality home at less cost and in less time than building the same home on site.

A modular home is built in sections in a factory environment. About 90 percent of the home's construction is completed including walls, windows, ceilings, roofing, floors, stairs, plumbing and electrical, cabinetry, counter tops and decorative flooring. Heating and air conditioning may be added in the factory or it may be added on site. The sections are individually covered and then shipped to the home site where they are assembled onto a pre-constructed basement or foundation.

A modular home can be designed to be "green" with the use of natural, non-toxic and sustainable materials to achieve a low-impact living home. For example, an eco-friendly kitchen can be added in the factory. Geothermal heating and cooling can either be added in the factory or installed onsite by a local contractor.

Advantages of a Modular Green Home

• Consistent quality – The factory quality control departments can check each section throughout the construction process and when each section is completed. A site-built home usually only receives inspections by the local building authority when key milestones are met by the contractor -- such as basic framing, electrical wiring, plumbing installation and final finishing.
• Lower cost – Materials can be purchased in bulk and stored for future use to take advantage of quantity purchasing and to avoid price fluctuations in building materials such as lumber.
• Faster construction – A home can be built in the factory in one to two weeks. During this time, the foundation can be completed on site. It will take two to four weeks to assemble the home after it arrives at the home site. This shortened time on site reduces weather damage or home site vandalism that might occur before the home is completed. Construction is seldom delayed due to weather, labor problems or missing materials. The reduced timeframe allows for a shorter duration construction loan and reduced interest payments.
• Code-compliant – Modular homes are built to the building codes of the location into which the home will be constructed using the same codes as site-built homes.
• Strong construction – More wood is usually used than in a site-built home since a modular home must withstand truck transport to the site, crane lifting of each module and installation. The joints are usually tighter and the materials are cut with more accuracy. The sections have not been exposed to the weather before they are packaged for shipment.
• Design flexibility – A wide variety of styles are available and can be customized. Custom designs can be created by architects who understand the unique challenges of planning for modular construction.
• Energy efficiency – A modular home is highly engineered and uses the latest construction technology. This provides a tighter home that experiences less energy waste.
• Less construction waste – Wood is used efficiently. Unused wood is usually recycled as fuel in the factory and not left unused at the home site, eventually ending up in landfill.
• Beneficial financials – Homes can qualify for mortgage programs with the same rules and regulations which apply to a site-built home. A modular home will appreciate the same as a site-built home.

Selecting a Design

Manufacturers of modular homes can either build a pre-designed home from their portfolio or can adapt one of their homes to meet the special needs of the homebuyer. The lighting, heating, cooling and appliances can all be customized to ensure energy efficiency. The floor finishes can be selected from sustainable resources.

A modular home can also be built from the green home plans created by an architect. The architect could either adapt a pre-existing design from the manufacturer or design the home totally. The architect's drawings and plans must meet the unique needs of modular home manufacturing:

• Construction documentation is not required because it can be provided by the manufacturer.
• The drawings and plans must be finalized before they are provided to the manufacturer. It is difficult and expensive to make changes once construction has started.
• The size of the modules must:
  • Be within the specifications of what the manufacturer is able to produce.
  • Accommodate the transportation needs for the modules to the building site. Narrow curvy roads cannot accommodate large boxes. Smaller boxes must be used for certain locations.

For example, Michelle Kaufmann of San Francisco is a prominent architect in the modular housing field. Her designs use attractive, sustainable and energy-efficient building materials, including:

• Walls of Cor-Ten steel, which has a rough texture and oxidizes over time, giving it a rich red color.
• Low-E sliding glass doors to provide cross-ventilation and natural lighting.
• Shed roof of Galvalume metal which provides low maintenance and compatibility with solar panels.
• Strand-woven bamboo flooring made from the waste of other bamboo floors. It is sustainable and very durable.
• Concrete countertops made of recycled materials.

The on site contractor should have experience not only with modular houses, but green building as well. An architect and a modular home company are both good sources for potential contractors who can install the foundation and finish the modular home after it is installed.

For More Information

• Michelle Kaufmann
• Living Homes
• Clever Homes
• Nationwide Homes
• Genesis Homes
• Guerdon Enterprises