Eco modular home design is come back to stay as it’s a greenhouse gas emissions saver: reduces on-site waste by 80% and reduces heavy transport by 60% – without mentioning it does not destroy natural habitats as traditional construction does. Discover the latest hit in sustainable architecture.
Each step towards a healthier environment matters, but it wouldn’t hurt if we make a giant leap from time to time. Sure, bamboo brushes, reusable straws and grocery bags all make a difference, but what good are these minor changes in your home is a lean, mean greenhouse gas machine? The answer may just be eco modular homes.
The average Australian home produces around 7 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The more luxurious the property, the more greenhouse gas emissions. See, those deluxe brick and mortar beach houses we all dream about don’t just come with outlandish prices, but they also come with hidden environmental costs that not everyone’s willing to pay.
Sustainable architecture: the future is modular
Apart from following a green lifestyle, eco-minded individuals are looking for other ways to reduce their impact. One promising solution for a more sustainable future arose from modular house construction. Yes, those factory-built prefab houses that stole the show back in the 60s are back with the bang and it seems like they’re here to stay.
Mind you, modular homes of today are nothing like those dull mass-produced dwellings from the past. The various designs of prefab houses nowadays look as good if not even better than traditional site-built houses. Not only that they’re a more affordable housing option, but they’re also a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution in several ways.
Eco modular houses help reduce the environmental impact
Prefabrication process
Just the fact that modular homes are built off-site in a factory is enough to put these houses in the eco-friendly category. Why, you ask? Because modular house construction reduces on-site waste by 80%.
Moreover, since prefabs are designed and produced in a centralized location, there’s a significantly lower need for heavy transportation machinery which results in 60% fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional house construction. Another great thing about building off-site is that it minimizes noise pollution and causes no disruption for people and animals living nearby.
Sustainably sourced & Recyclable materials
Builders of eco modular homes Australia wide use sustainably sourced and in most cases recyclable materials for both the exterior and the interior of their projects. This leaves a minimal imprint on the land and forests compared to traditional construction methods, which destroy the habitats of animals and insects.
Keep in mind, not only that an eco-friendly house is good for the environment, but it’s also beneficial to your health. Some eco-conscious companies go to great lengths to ensure that no toxic chemicals, VOCs or formaldehyde products will ever come near your modular abode.
Passive design principles
You’ve probably heard that eco modular homes are built around passive design principles, so you may be wondering what the passive design elements are and what’s their purpose. The passive design has a goal to make a house as energy-efficient as possible by utilizing the following elements:
- Location
- Orientation
- Building Layout
- Thermal Performance
- Insulation
The first three elements are combined to provide the home with the right amount of solar exposure to minimize the need for auxiliary heating or cooling. Then, with the adequate use of thermal mass throughout the house, the energy consumption is further reduced. As a cherry on top, high-quality insulation materials are used to keep the cold in or out during summer and winter. Here’s a great 90-sec video if you want to see how these elements all work together.
As you can see with passive design alone, you can reduce your energy consumption by whooping 90 per cent and lower your household carbon footprint to the bare minimum. Not to underestimate anyone’s efforts to lead a life with less plastic, but this might be a more impactful way to contribute to a healthier environment.
How to make your eco modular home truly sustainable
Energy-efficient appliances
Apart from passive design elements, eco modular homes are also equipped with energy-efficient appliances that require minimum energy to run. From energy-efficient air ventilation systems all the way to lighting fixtures, everything is carefully chosen to leave a minimum imprint on the environment (and save you some big bucks as a bonus!)
Clean energy production
Apart from conserving energy, some eco modular homes also utilize the power of solar to produce their own clean energy. Why does this matter? Because on a global scale, around 60% of electricity comes from fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, natural gasses etc. The burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity releases humongous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere causing global warming. Yes, it exists! As a matter of fact, our planet’s temperature has already increased by 1C.
Switching to solar energy combined with the passive principles and energy-efficient appliances mentioned above will significantly reduce your carbon footprint. The more people opt for modular solar-powered homes, the sooner we’ll achieve the Paris Agreement objective of becoming climate-neutral and hopefully avoid a disastrous global warming scenario.
Eco modular homes durability
The fact that modular houses are quick to build and more affordable has people worried if prefab homes last. If that’s your case, you have nothing to worry about. Modular houses of today are equally durable as brick and mortar homes. Some of these structures can even withstand hurricane winds and earthquakes.
Furthermore, not only that modular homes are built to last, but they’re also build to be repurposed and recycled. This means that in case you need to relocate or build another modular house, you can use the materials from the old one for your next project.
Closing Thoughts
You see, even without going into the other benefits of modular construction such as time and cost efficiency, flexibility, comfort and quality of life, things look pretty bright for prefabs. If you want to join the good fight and lead by example, by all means, choose an eco modular home. It’s the surefire way to a sustainable architecture future.
