Manufactured housing gets energy efficient
Maryville, Tenn.-based manufactured-home builder Clayton claims to be the first single-family off-site builder to launch an energy-efficiency offering on a large scale.
The company rolled out is eBuilt program, in which 39 facilities are building homes to meet the US Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home specifications.
“We are thrilled and incredibly proud to offer eBuilt homes to home buyers across the nation,” said Keith Holdbrooks, CEO and Executive Chairman of Clayton Home Building Group. “eBuilt homes provides our home buyers an energy-efficient home that significantly lowers homeowners’ utility bills and environmental impact. This is a monumental achievement for our team at Clayton and for the single-family homebuilding industry.”
The energy efficient homes strive to tackle the financial burden caused by rising home energy costs that threaten attainable homeownership, the builder said.
Last year, more than 20 million American families struggled to pay their utility bills, with average residential electricity prices increasing more than 14 percent– double the rate of inflation - across the country. This financial impact on homeowner wallets is what inspired Clayton to launch eBuilt homes.
The eBuilt homes can help homeowners save up to 40-50 percent on their annual energy costs, with the potential to save thousands of dollars in energy costs throughout their homeownership
Among the enhancements that contribute to the energy efficiency of the homes are:
• Rheem hybrid water heater, which uses less energy than a 100-watt light bulb
• Low-E windows with argon gas, which reduce energy loss by 30-50%
• LED lighting throughout, which use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs5
• SmartComfort by Carrier high efficiency heat pump or gas furnace
• Frigidaire ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher and refrigerator
• ecobee smart thermostat
• Insulated exterior doors
They can also accommodate a renewable solar energy system if the homeowner chooses to add after purchase, the company said.