The Big Question: Are prefabricated homes really green?

Why we are asking this now?

At a time when urban planners are looking for solutions of rising housing demand across the globe, prefab homes provide a valid alternative. They can be built from Eco-friendly materials and transported easily from one place to another. However, there are still apprehensions about their 'green' credentials. This is because of the high electricity consumption, high costs involved, luxurious interiors and exteriors provided to occupants in prefab homes. Also, a lot of resources are required for shipping or transporting the structure from one place to another. It is hence necessary to properly examine all the claims made for and against the prefab homes.

prefab homes

Is it really that serious?

No. In fact, we believe that the world requires more options for housing. The cost of building conventional houses has risen by leaps and bound in last few years in many cities. Such houses are unfriendly to environment because they are built mostly from materials that require greater CO2 emission during production. The same is also true for the U.S. A. which witnessed a dip in the housing prices in the aftermath of recent financial crisis. Here prefab houses certainly provide one of the most greenest housing option and that too without any discomfort. Also, they can be extremely useful in disaster prone areas.

What others are saying

Wendy Koch of USA Today says,

These are not mobile homes, known as "manufactured" housing, but rather "modular" homes built to local codes and set on permanent foundations. They often consist of several customized modules that are placed together at the property.

Let's face it. The housing market is in shambles. Old houses are drafty and cost a lot to green up. A prefab eco-home might be the perfect solution to your personal housing shortage. It comes pre-greened. All you have to do is live there.

Not only is prefab more environmentally friendly than traditional building methods, it is also considerably less expensive. The elements of mass customization, mobility, and versatility in building materials make prefab homes ideal for low-income communities and areas that are prone to natural disaster.

1. Live Pod – A prefabricated dwelling

Live Pod

Developed by MisoSoupDesign, the Live Pod prefab home is an example of a mobile and sustainable building system. The designers have used green materials like bamboo, photovoltaic panels, green roof and rain screen facade for this prefab home. The components can be easily transported from one place to another and designed according to user specifications. Also, it is very easy to install the Live Pod at any location.

2. Ecofabulous' prefabricated home believes small is green

Ecofabulous Home

Zem Joaquin of Ecofabulous has designed this 550 square feet home along with Jonathan Davis of PieceHomes. The small house displays a unique blend of creativity, comfort and Eco-friendliness. It has been built mostly from Eco-friendly materials and also features solar panels, green appliances, water waving faucets, cork flooring and LED lighting.

3. Prefab Villas

Prefab Villas

Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the The Prefab Villas is a sustainable prefab home made mostly from wood. It features green technologies like solar thermal system and rain-water recycling system on the roof top. There is also a geothermal system along with a high-efficiency heat pump. The 515 square meter house provides all other modern domestic luxuries and can be shipped to any place as required.

4. Sommerhaus Piu: Sustainable, prefabricated wooden house

Sommerhaus Piu

Designed by Patrick Frey and Björn Götte, the Sommerhaus Piu prefab house creatively exploits the natural light, renewable building materials and free flowing space to provide a sustainable living to the occupants. It is being promoted as a low carbon footprint vacation house.

The main hurdles

There are many hurdles that have hampered the popularity of the prefab homes despite of their Eco-friendly credentials. Some of them are:

• The present prefab models are costly, especially for those who cannot afford conventional houses at current prices. This has limited their popularity as vacation homes and for other temporary purposes.
• The mobility of prefab homes is constrained because of the requirement of large tailors, high cost and other resources for their transport.
• There are also some legal constraints as the houses need to meet necessary safety standards and obtain permission for installation as prescribed by local authorities.

Some steps for increasing the popularity of prefab homes are required. This can be done by constructing cheaper models and making them available in places where there is acute shortage of homes for people. Also, the tourism and hospitality industry leaders can be persuaded to install prefab homes at many exotic locations for the globetrotters.