An energy-efficient manufactured home can help you save money on your electric bill and improve the environmental health of your home, so it’s important to understand how they work. You’ll find that some manufactured homes are more efficient than others—here’s what you need to know about making the most of energy-efficient manufactured homes.
There’re plenty of manufactured homes on offer today, but not all of them provide as many green benefits as you might think. In order to ensure that your home is energy-efficient, you should look for features like high-efficiency windows and doors, Low-E glass coatings and triple-glazed windows. In addition to looking at a home’s main components—its shell—you also want to make sure that it is properly insulated with extruded polystyrene foam insulation or expanded polystyrene foam insulation. Finally, find out if your chosen manufactured home has been pre-approved by an energy label organization; this will help you verify that it can meet local energy codes.
Many newer manufactured homes have been built to meet higher standards for energy efficiency and often include innovations that make them just as eco-friendly as their site-built counterparts but at a fraction of the cost. When you choose an energy-efficient manufactured home, you enjoy several benefits that site-built homes can’t match.
Energy-efficient windows and doors can reduce heat loss by almost 80 percent in cold weather. This is especially important if you live in a manufactured home with only single-pane windows, which are more likely to be drafty than stick-built homes.
Adding insulation to your manufactured home will reduce heat loss, helping to reduce your energy costs. Don’t forget about expanding foam insulation and exterior foams as well. If you’re not sure where to add insulation in your manufactured home, experts can help you with that!
Although it may seem like a lot of trouble, getting your manufactured home serviced can be a great way to reduce energy costs, not only when you move in but year after year, making general repairs (caulking, ducts, etc.) or upgrading to Energy Star-certified appliances could save money over time and maybe even mean that you don’t have to rely on your air conditioner as much.
Installing insulation will have a major impact on energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that improved wall insulation can reduce air infiltration by 30 percent, which means that 30 percent less heat is lost through your walls or windows and 30 percent more heat is retained inside your home!
Start by filling any cracks in your home with spray foam. If you have extra space between your walls and skirting, fill it in with insulation. Next, install insulated skirting to seal up gaps between your floor and outside wall. This will reduce heat loss from outdoor air sneaking into these spaces.
As its name suggests, a belly wrap is a permanent or semi-permanent thermal cover that fits over your manufactured home’s exterior. It protects against heat loss from the ground and roof.
Do you know how much heat is lost from your home because of your roof? Insulation or a roof cap will add insulation and make your home more energy-efficient, saving you money on electricity. It’s easy to do it yourself – use rolls of reflective foil (aluminium) or bubble wrap to insulate your home’s attic space.