Green modular homes grow in St. Louis

St. Louis-based urban redevelopment firm EcoUrban is filling vacant lots in St. Louis with energy-efficient and affordable prefab and modular homes.

The redevelopment project involves a modular building manufactured off-site with green, sustainable features, then trucked to St. Louis, placed on a precast foundation and finished on-site.

The company’s latest redevelopment, Sullivan Place, is a partnership with a number of community and state housing, renewal, development and economic development organizations. The plan is for eight new homes to infill lots in the heart of metro St. Louis -- a mile north of city center. The first house at 2332 Dodier St. recently went on foundation and is small at only 1,360 sq. ft., but features three bedrooms, two full baths and all kinds of building products that improve its performance -- lowering the operating cost and making the indoor environment healthier, according to the company. 

The house was built in Peoria, Ill., by Homeway Homes. It features: bamboo floors, cabinets made by a local green cabinetmaker, low-E Energy Star-rated windows, low-flow water fixtures, dual flush toilets, low-to-no VOC paints, highly efficient HVAC, humidity-controlling bath ventilation fans and ventilated range hoods -- all designed to conserve energy, water and maintain excellent indoor air quality.

Another important green feature is the house’s high-performance InsulStar SPF Insulation made by Mt. Airy, N.C.-based NCFI.