Modular Homes HQ

Few people realize that going green doesn’t mean buying a hybrid car, or that being environmentally responsible is not limited to recycling plastics, aluminum, and paper. One of the easiest ways to help the environment is to make sure that your home – each individual’s largest source of energy consumption – is as energy efficient as possible. Thankfully, for those who choose to build a modular home, building an energy efficient home is both easy and affordable.

The link between energy-efficient homes and a greener lifestyle is not always obvious. Although many people understand that greenhouse gases that deplete the ozone are slowing causing a warmer, more unstable planet, few understand that one of the major contributors to global warming is the house in which they live. By building a home that uses energy more efficiently, your carbon footprint is reduced, a reduction that continues over time.

Modular homes are among the most energy efficient homes on the market, not only as a finished product, but also during construction. Because modular homes are built almost entirely in a factory setting, by skilled craftsmen, there is less waste to dispose of, and less waste to be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. And, because several parts of the construction are being completed simultaneously, there is less energy used overall. The fact that a modular home must be shipped to the site after construction in the factory means that the house is built to be extremely impervious to the elements from the start; this translates to a tighter constructed home that will be more energy efficient after it is constructed on site.

However, there are many decisions that you and the modular home manufacturer can make together about your modular home that will make it even more energy efficient for years to come. Here are some of the energy-efficiency factors in your home that you should consider:

• Insulation: a home that is well-insulated will need less energy to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, because less of the cooled and heated air will escape outside from the home, and less of the hot or cold air from the outdoors will penetrate the home. Talk to your modular home manufacturer about the most energy-efficient insulation options he or she offers. Stress that you want to build the most energy-efficient home possible. Making your home more airtight means that you will use less energy to heat and cool it, which not only reduce your home’s carbon footprint, but will save you money.
• HVAC: the biggest energy consumer in your home is your heating and cooling system. While a home that is well-insulated will use energy more efficiently, a home that is heated and cooled by a more energy-efficient HVAC system will use even less energy. Heat pumps are among the most energy-efficient HVAC systems available; however, any system that operates on a solar or geothermal HVAC system will not only be extremely effective at reducing the amount of energy used, because they take advantage of natural power sources, but will also be much less expensive to operate as well. Regardless of what type of system you choose, look for the Energy Star rating, which means the system has been independently tested for energy efficiency.
• Appliances: after the HVAC system, your home appliances are the largest consumers of energy in your home. By choosing appliances that use less energy, you save energy and money. Again, look for the Energy Star rating when selecting appliances, and, when choosing dishwashers and washing machines, look for models that use less water. Speaking of water, your hot water heater is responsible for approximately 15% of the energy used in your home. Make sure yours is the most energy-efficient model, or, for the ultimate in energy efficiency, choose a tankless water heater, which heats water on demand rather than keeping a large tank full of heated water.
• Light fixtures: when possible, choose fluorescent light fixtures, particularly in rooms that get the most use, such as the kitchen and family rooms. Fluorescent lights not only consume much less energy than incandescent lights, they also last much longer. For other fixtures, choose fixtures that can easily accommodate CFLs, or compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Bathroom fixtures: water itself does not consume a lot of energy, but getting it to the faucet or toilet does. Choose low-flow shower heads and restricted flow faucets, and you automatically use less water and energy. Energy-efficient toilets save even more. That’s water that does not have to be brought to your home or heated by your water heater, and what’s more, it’s money in your pocket in the long run.

These are only a few of the ways you can help the planet by building a modular home that uses energy in a more efficient manner, saving both the planet and your pocketbook. Talk to your modular home manufacturer about other ways you can make your modular home even more energy-efficient. You’ll be glad you did your part not only for your own family, but for the whole planet. Energy-efficient homes are green – both for the planet, and both for the money they save!

Tags: energy efficient home, green construction, green home, green modular home