In the housing market of the 21st century, buyers have more choices than ever before. Restoring old homes, moving in to sunny new subdivisions, or investing in communal properties are all common ways to enter home ownership. For buyers that want more control over the design and construction of their homes, the world of modular or prefabricated housing has become a popular choice. Green prefab homes are a relatively new extension of the modular market, combining to-order home design with the latest in environmentally friendly and sustainable technology.
Green building has gained considerable popularity in the 21st century, thanks to increasing social awareness about sustainable living. Many green homes are designed or retrofitted to run on renewable energy sources and provide energy efficiency, as well as primarily using green building materials. By making their homes as green as possible, many people feel comforted by the knowledge that their dwelling has a minimized environmental impact.
In green prefab homes, the latest environmental technology is combined with utilitarian features that can be personalized or customized to suit the individual buyer. Many green prefab homes offer several different design styles, such as modern, Zen, or flexible. The design style dictates the furnishing and features of the house to some degree, although many features such as extra windows or more luxurious flooring styles can be added if desired.
Many elements are involved in making sure that green prefab homes are actually green. Flooring is typically made from sustainable materials such as bamboo or low-emission carpet fibers. The house may come complete with energy efficient features, such as double-paned glass, built-in energy efficient large appliances, and even renewable energy systems such as solar panels. Energy efficiency is a key element to green building that can also greatly reduce utility bills for owners. By investing in green technology, owners can reap savings as well as help spread renewable resource use.
Like most modular dwellings, green prefab homes usually come in kits based on a selected blueprint. Basic blueprints typically contain at least one bedroom and bath, a kitchen, and living area. Customers can add on additional modular units to increase space, or choose a larger basic model to add additional rooms. Once chosen, buyers will receive the green prefab home kit, which usually contains the pieces to the entire structure, from finished and precut wood to carpeting and cabinet knobs. Homeowners typically hire contractors to assemble the building, though enterprising carpenters may choose to do some or all of the construction themselves.
Getting good monetary value from a green prefab home may depend on where the buyer lives. Where property values are high, a green prefab home can be a great deal, even when the purchase price for the home lot is included. For regions with relatively low home values, green prefab homes may be more of a luxury. Yet many people find the privilege of designing and building a custom green home to be reward enough, as evidenced by the growing market for green prefab houses throughout the world.
