Sheri Koones
Abrams (2012)
When I first heard about the return of prefab housing, also known as modular homes, my mind raced back to the modular homes from the 1970s and 1980s that were advertised on television late at night or that gave off the fragrance of formaldehyde. However, these days prefab homes come in green, as in sustainable and are energy efficient. The walls, floors and other components are manufactured off site, preventing mold spores and dampness from seeping into the materials and cutting down on onsite time that it takes to construct a home. Depending on the manufacturer, a home builder can request certified sustainable wood products, cleaner insulation products, formaldehyde-free products and even include reclaimed or recycled materials.
In her book, Prefabulous + Almost Off The Grid, author and fab house expert Sheri Koones features 30 prefab houses from across the United States and built in a range of climates from the deserts of Utah, to the damp climes of the Pacific Northwest and the chilling cold of the Midwest and northeast coast (think Maine). The houses featured represent student projects, expo models, vacation retreats, and homes from everyday use. The styles range from traditional, historic, rustic and ultra modern. The main focus of the builders, home owners and designers is lightening their carbon footprint by building "Zero Net" homes or homes almost off the grid.
However, my main concern as someone with sensitivities is a house with all natural materials that don't off-gas and clean indoor air is more important to me than energy conservation, though that comes in a close second place. One house in particular caught my attention because it managed to meet both requirements, the New England Farmhouse on page 28 which set the goal of clean indoor air and net zero status. The builders included a HEPA whole house filtration system and to keep out unwanted dampness, "Furthermore, the building envelope is designed to properly manage moisture flow, which eliminates the risk of condensation in the walls, which in turn can cause mildew, mold and rot." (That's a plus for people who live in damp climates).
While prefab houses might still be out of many prospective home owners budgets, these houses range in design and square footage. The energy saving features and even the inclusion of solar panels could qualify for rebate programs and the savings on energy costs over time could pay for the initial design and building costs. With more government green standards for energy conservation with future homes, a person building a prefab house with the energy saving features and sustainable products will find themselves well ahead of the curve and if they choose to place their home on the market it has a better chance of attracting a buyer than a conventional home, according to Koones' book. It's worth consideration, not just for single family homes, but also for low-income housing and housing for intentional communities as well as, eco-villages.
http://www.abramsbooks.com