Manufactured Housing Equals Green Housing

Concerns about the environment and climate change have everyday Americans more determined than ever to do their part to reduce pollution and harmful emissions. It may come as something of a surprise to learn that homes and businesses significantly contribute to C02 emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 11 percent of greenhouses gases came from a residential and commercial building in 2017. Fortunately, the manufactured housing industry has worked diligently to reduce carbon footprints.

Today’s green manufactured homes are stemming the flow of hazardous emissions by improving the way these cost-effective living spaces are created. The manufactured housing sector also provides energy-efficient options that are budget friendly for first-time home buyers and growing families. If you are deciding between a site-built and manufactured home and have environmental concerns, the following considerations may prove valuable.

What Does it Mean to be a Green Manufactured Home?

Terms like “green,” “green friendly” and eco-friendly” are bandied about without giving most people a meat and potatoes definition of what they mean. They seem to be catch-all phrases for things that are somehow less harmful to the environment than other products in their class. That loose understanding certainly fits when you talk about green manufactured homes because they outpace many others in this regard.

But more succinctly, a green or eco-friendly product is one that minimizes its negative environmental impact and improves efforts such as conservation. Human beings are not going to start subjecting themselves to the elements by living outdoors. So, it’s imperative that we minimize the impact of our living space needs as much as possible.

One of the ways that manufactured housing facilities accomplish critical green-friendly practices is by reducing the amount of energy required to build a home. The prefabrication and delivery process generally requires less energy than on-site building projects. That’s largely due to familiarity with specific designs and floor plans created in a controlled environment. But production is not the only way green manufactured homes are environmental leaders.

How the Manufactured Housing Industry Turned Green

It wasn’t long ago that the average person did not associate manufactured homes with the term “green.” That’s a reasonable disconnect considering the manufactured housing sector trailed site-built structures during the 1970s. However, that all changed by 1976.

When the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 went into effect, enhanced standards caused the manufactured housing industry to revise its methods. It was just the motivation the industry needed.

When HUD revised the code in the 1990s to upgrade “home design and construction, strength and durability, fire resistance, and energy efficiency,” manufactured homes started to become increasingly greener. As recently as 2016, the Department of Energy made recommendations that manufactured homes become a leader by improving energy efficiency by a stunning 27 percent. The industry responded to this challenge by taking proactive measures such as the following.

• Increased insulation
• Improved caulking around ducts and outlets
• Energy-efficient water heaters
• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient doors

The modern American manufactured home now meets or exceeds many site-built homes in terms of energy efficiency excellence. They generally enjoy Energy Star certification supported by meeting EPA and HUD guidelines. Many site-built homes are only required to meet local minimum building standards.

As an example, the eco-friendly Champion homes line enjoys enough living space to accommodate a growing family. Designs range from 1- to 4-bedroom floor plans. And although they are quite versatile, the environmental integrity of Champions homes remains intact. Construction materials include the following.

• R-22 rated ceiling insulation
• R-13 wall insulation
• R-11 floor insulation
• Energy efficient skirting
• Energy efficient windows

What’s truly remarkable about these and other types of manufactured housing is that they provide a cost-effective, green lifestyle after already benefiting from less impactful construction. One might call that a win-win.

When reviewing the variety of floor plans and design of manufactured homes, two options that have gained some eco-friendly steam are the Clayton home and Champion line. For an example of green manufactured homes, explore Champion homes on Homes Direct.