Modular homes have been around since Sears and Roebuck and Co. introduced pre-fabricated homes in 1908. They have since come a long way. That’s why Scott Brooker of SGB Homes decided to showcase the building technology by bringing the first green modular home to Tidewater Builders Association’s Homearama showcase of homes.
 
According to the National Association of Home Builders, modular home production is the fastest growing segment of the industry, and the Northeastern and South Atlantic regions of the United States are No. one and two, respectively, in leading the nation in modular home construction. Additionally, between 1992 and 2002, modular housing production increased 48 percent.

Modular homes are built in segments, called modules, in a controlled environment at a factory. The sections are transported to the home site and are placed together and attached to a permanent foundation with the use of a crane.

The Whitaker at Homearama
Brooker’s Homearama home, The Whitaker, is comprised of seven modules constructed within Haven Custom Homes state-of-art, climate-controlled production facility in Pennsylvania. Brooker’s crew completed on-site finishing of the home. The builder says 80 percent of the modular homes the company builds are customized, including the model on display at Homearama, with 10-foot ceilings downstairs, 9-foot ceilings upstairs, whole-house audio, granite countertops, a large screened-in rear porch and a host of energy-saving features:

  • Energy Star-certified, which means it meets guidelines for energy efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Energy-efficient low-E windows and doors
  • Insulated plumbing and lighting fixtures
  • Zip System roof and wall sheathing - water-resistive barrier keeps water out during and after construction and eliminates moisture in the home
  • Climate-controlled facility guarantees zero exposure to outside elements
  • Virtually airtight heating and cooling duct systems
  • Low volatile organic compounds paints, sealants and varnishes

Reasons to go modular

A modular home is typically completed in about one-third of the time it takes a traditional site-built home, and they are ready for move-in within weeks of being delivered.
Additionally, most modular companies allow clients complete flexibility in design and customization for their home.
 
Modular homes are constructed in a controlled environment, which eliminates weather delays, and they have the same longevity as comparable site-built homes, increasing in value over time.
 
An independent third party inspection agency approves each home before it is delivered to the home site, offering assurance to clients that they’re home is being built with quality and integrity.

Homeowners concerned with the environmental impact of building a new home are also attracted to the green building aspects of modular homes. Assembly in an enclosed indoor environment contributes to reduced waste of material, lessens the environmental impact on the land and the community and allows for a tighter built structure to maximize energy efficiency – all of which are key components to green building standards.