Green Modular Homes Increasing in Popularity, New York Times Reports

Thanks to the modular building process being inherently green, the less impact to existing neighborhoods during construction, reduced waste and strong energy performance, more and more consumers are opting for this form of building, reports the New York Times today. Entitled "Reinventing Modular Homes as Green," the article points out the advantages of this modern building system.

"...Manufacturers of factory-built homes have realized that concepts like efficiency and sustainability can make for good business strategy," writes Nick Chambers, reporter for the New York Times.

"High-end modular housing companies like Michelle Kaufmann Designs and LivingHomes — both based in California — are taking the green concept to new levels, catering to the luxury market with amenities like built-in rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse, tankless water heaters and bamboo flooring.

"But even at the lower end of the economic scale, modular housing manufacturers are touting their green credentials.

"To withstand the stresses of long-distance shipping, for example, modular homes are typically built with thicker walls and floors and are held together tightly with screws and glue — instead of just nails. A side effect of this, industry representatives note: Higher energy efficiency due to the extra insulation and tighter, less draft-prone seams.

"And many modular companies are moving away from the not-so-eco-friendly materials — toxic paints, PVCs and so forth — that have been used in the past.

"New World Home, a company specializing in making classic home designs “green,” describes itself as “an emerging design-build company dedicated to fulfilling the convergence of historically inspired residential design, environmentally sanctioned products and practices, and ultra-efficient manufacturing methodologies.”

"The company, based in New York, is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, and its design service offers a number of sustainable features, from ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems to optional alternative-energy systems like solar or wind power.

"In Massachusetts, Ecohealth Homes, a division of Chatham Hill Residential Design and Build L.L.C., has partnered with the modular juggernaut Penn Lyon Homes to bring EnergyStar-certified modular models to market."

Read the full story here.