Floor Plans I Pricing & Cost I Design I Construction I Builders I Financing I FAQs I Modular Articles I Privacy Statement
Floor Plans I Pricing & Cost I Design I Construction I Builders I Financing I FAQs I Modular Articles
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Smart Energy Efficient Upgrades for Modular Homes
The below recomendations could add ten to twenty percent to the price of your new modular home, your savings should be able to be recouped in less than ten years. In addition to saving energy, your prefab modular home will be more comfortable, durable and healthier for the life of the home. The price to make these improvements to your modular home is nominal at construciton compared to making these upgrades as retrofits.
Insulation | Upgrading the insulation in your modular homes walls, ceilings and floors will save you on your energy bill and also keep your home free of outside noise pollution. Insulation upgrades include: spray foam insulation applications; rigid insulation board and additional R-Value for insulation in the ceiling system. |
Windows | The standard window installed in new construction today are constructed from vinyl. I believe people are better off upgrading to a vinyl clad window where the core of the window is wood or even better off fiberglass windows. Vinyl windows typically provide the better short term value in a home with lower U-Values. In the long run, wood and fiberglass framed windows will save you on replacement costs. |
HRVs or ERVs | Modular homes are inherently constructed tighter than most site built homes. Adding an ERV or an HRV to your home will provide quality indoor air for the occupants. The thought that modular homes needs to breath is a false hood. Modular homes need to be able to dry on their own or with mechanical systems. An HRV or ERV will help keep a home dry. Dry insulation is also more effective at resisting heat flow - saving on energy costs to keep your new modular home comfortable and healthy year round. |
Air Sealing | Air sealing a modular home will eliminate drafts and cold spots in your new home. The ultimate air sealing for a modular home during construction is to have the home sealed with two inches of spray foam insulation on the exterior walls and the ceiling system. On site air sealing would include the band joists, mechanical chases, duct work (registers, grills and duct joints). |
ZipSystem | ZipSystem sheathing is superior to using house wrap on your home. The Zip System eliminated the need for house wrap or felt paper. The Zip System is a lifetime investment for your new modular home. Haven Custom Homes offer Zip System sheathing for their Haven Custom Homes Presidential series and their Classic Homes by Haven. |
Design Work | Design work is more than locating walls in your new modular home. Design work should also include positioning the home on the building site, rating the homes energy efficiency using a modeling software (used by HERs Raters for ENERGY STAR) and maybe an engineer if you are going to use passive solar to heat your home. |
On Demand Hot Water Heating | Having an on demand hot water heating system is the most efficient hot water heating system if your home has natural gas. Electric on demand systems consume large amounts of electricity. If you do install a on demand hot water heating system, take into consideration the transmission costs of natural gas. You might only use fifteen dollars of natural gas a month, but your transmission fees could be twenty or more. Liquid propane is a great alternative to natural gas hot water heating if your home is heated by electricity. |