Are you torn between buying a traditional home or a modular construction? Modular building materials and the production of manufactured homes decrease construction waste and create more sustainable projects for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
The United States generates more than 548 million tons of construction and demolition debris every year. However, modular building materials cut back on waste because of the repetitive nature of construction. There are a number of ways that modular building creates a greener process that's more environmentally friendly.
1. Reducing Waste
Studies show that modular construction reduces waste by as much as 90 percent compared to onsite construction. With modular buildings, modules or panels are typically created in a factory, and then the pieces are shipped to the site and pieced together. Smaller buildings may be complete and sent in full and simply placed on a foundation at the building site.
Modular units arrive at the site as much as 90 percent completed already, so construction waste typically generated by multiple individuals at a construction site doesn't occur. The number of people needed to put the modules together is far fewer than for a traditionally built structure.
4. More Energy Efficiency
One trend in modular buildings is the use of highly energy efficient materials and appliances. Because modular homes are made in a factory setting, they tend to be more airtight. They also have optimal insulation and a smaller footprint in most cases.
Prefab manufacturers understand that their typical customers want energy-efficient features such as LED lighting, Energy Star rated appliances and alternative energy source options. Homes that are Energy Star certified save homeowners about $13,500 over three decades.
5. More Modular Building Materials
Today's modular homes benefit from a wealth of sustainable building materials. Homeowners can already take pride in the efficient, clean way their manufactured homes are constructed. Now, they can opt to use sustainably-produced wood, concrete and other materials that limit construction waste across the board.
For instance, builders may opt to use the relatively new cross-laminated timber to create a more environmentally friendly product. Cross-laminated timber is produced by a modular process, and made by gluing multiple layers of solid lumber together so they’re perpendicular and symmetrical. The result is a solid wood panel system that locks in CO2, increasing the sustainability and efficiency of manufactured homes.
Concrete is another building material with a greatly reduced carbon footprint, thanks to modular construction blocks and recyclable materials. Producing concrete traditionally creates high levels of industrial waste and carbon emissions. Manufactured blocks, on the other hand, prevent 15 million metric tons of construction waste from ending up in landfills each year.
6. Greater Safety for Workers
While not technically an environmental issue, time off for injured workers is a serious concern in the building industry. Workplace fatalities in the construction industry as a whole have increased, rising about six percent a year, but offsite construction is seen as safer because the environment is more tightly controlled. There are fewer risks that involve work in extreme heat, cold or at unsafe heights.
In turn, this increased safety can reduce labor and lower the price of a manufactured home. The reduction in overhead expenses gives people more flexible spending to pursue more environmentally friendly materials and add options such as solar panels or higher energy efficient windows.
Modular Buildings Reduce Waste
Manufacturers of modular homes understand the various options available to homeowners that make a unit more energy efficient. They work closely with lenders as well, figuring out which options are most affordable and providing the most energy efficiency to the end user. The real estate world is likely to see manufactured homes boom in the next few decades, and it's clear to see why.
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