While it can be risky trying to predict the future, we think we have a pretty good idea of what tomorrow’s manufactured homes will look like.
Think about the issues that are most important to homebuilders and buyers today; at the top of that list is energy efficiency. This is particularly true in California, where an approaching net zero energy mandate may require every new home to generate as much power as it consumes.
To achieve that ambitious goal will require changes in home design, in the materials used to build manufactured homes, and in the appliances and heating/cooling systems installed inside.
The good news is such sustainability is no longer one of those exciting prospects that always remains on the horizon, just out of reach, like those futuristic cars on display every year at the auto show that never seem to make it to the dealer showrooms.
Last year, at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Los Angeles, attendees caught a glimpse of tomorrow’s manufactured home – and it looked pretty good.
The modular structure offered a flexible floor plan of nearly 1,800 square feet, with a movable wall inside that would expand living room space or create an additional bedroom.
And that zero energy mandate? Already accomplished thanks in part to a dishwasher that reuses water from the final rinse for the next load, and a “power wall” to store electricity from solar panels.
No, this model is not yet available, and probably won’t be for a while. But if you’re in the market for a manufactured home, you are already doing your part to lower your carbon footprint. Today’s top suppliers, such as Silvercrest and Skyline, are building some of today’s most environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient homes available today.
Ready to take a closer look? Our land/home package is a great place to start. Find out more here