I know that in some cases, prefab homes get a bad rap. Some people think of prefab homes as being inferior, but a whole new type of prefab may make some people change their minds.
Prefabs have now gone green. Well, at least in some cases. While many are still hesitate to install solar panels in their traditional homes, how would you feel if you could buy a prefab home that already had solar panels? How about one with a green roof? Some even offer LEED certifications.
Green prefabs may be the perfect home for today. After all, the housing market is in the dumps and many are looking to downscale from their larger homes.
If you don’t need much square footage, Nationwide’s Home’s Eco-Cottages may be for you. For example, the IBS Osprey model is absolutely adorable. You can customize it with such green features as bamboo flooring, a tankless water heater, thin-film solar panels, composite decking, and metal siding. Of course, all this costs extra, but with a base price of $59,500, you can afford it! The only problem is it is one bedroom and only 523 square feet. But, if you are looking for something smaller and green, the Osprey might be the prefab home for you. Nationwide also offers other models such as the Kinglet (475 square feet), the beachy looking Palmeco (also 475 square feet), and its smallest home, the Starling (250 square feet).
mkDesigns by blue homes also has several eco-friendly prefab models. The mkGlidehouse is very cute and modern looking and most importantly green with its formaldehyde-free cabinetry. It costs about $250 to $350 a square foot and is one of the larger prefab green homes at 1344 square feet. Need something even bigger? The mkSolaire offers 3 bedrooms and 2,050 square feet. My personal favorite is the mkLotus. A very cute, Japanese looking home, it offers solar panels, rain water catchment, and a gray water system in its 725 square feet.
Companies that build prefab homes can argue the all prefabs are greener than traditional homes. This is just because prefabs are made in a controlled factory environment and everything is so precise that there is less waste.