Energy-efficient manufactured homes, commonly known as
mobile homes, can save consumers $4.6 billion in energy costs over the next 20
years, according to a new study released July 31 by theAmerican
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The study, “Mobilizing
Energy Efficiency in the Manufactured Housing Sector,” highlights the
economic benefits of energy savings for the 17 million people living in
manufactured homes across the country. It is the first such analysis to
comprehensively evaluate the national potential for energy-efficiency improvements
to both new and existing manufactured homes.
In mobile homes, energy efficiency
not only cuts energy waste, it can dramatically improve residents' economic
stability. Average household incomes in mobile homes are 36% lower than the
national household average, and 22% of mobile-home residents have incomes below
the federal poverty line. For these families, energy efficiency can alleviate
onerous utility bills, particularly among those living in extreme climates and
aging homes.
“We found that energy costs are
particularly salient for residents of manufactured homes,” said ACEEE Buildings
Program DirectorJennifer Amann. “For example,
many are retirees living on fixed incomes. For these residents, energy savings
yield immediately tangible benefits by freeing up cash for other uses.”
Unfortunately, capturing energy
savings in the new housing market has proven difficult so far. Current energy
codes are less stringent than those for site-built homes; emphasis on low first-cost
has driven demand for low-efficiency homes and loans may be prohibitively
expensive for homeowners seeking energy-efficient homes. Mortgages for
manufactured homes are often personal property loans with high interest rates
and short amortization schedules, exacerbating incremental costs for
high-efficiency homes.
Barriers also are present to
improving energy efficiency in existing homes. Retrofits in mobile homes are
less common than in site-built homes because many homeowners lack the capital
to undertake home improvements. And while the federal Weatherization Assistance
Program provides retrofits to many low-income residents of mobile homes, many
other residents with incomes above the maximum threshold still cannot afford to
initiate their own renovations or buy a new energy-efficient home. This dilemma
creates what is known as the “income sandwich,” which disadvantages those residents
who fall between energy-efficiency programs designed for homeowners with either
high or low incomes.
Still, there is reason for
optimism regarding the future of the manufactured housing industry, according
toJacob Talbot, lead researcher for the report. “By
using conventional building techniques like higher insulation values,
energy-efficient windows and improved duct sealing, we can build manufactured
homes with energy performance on par and even exceeding that of the site-built
housing market. We found that high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment,
lighting and appliances can save substantial amounts of energy as well.”
Bringing these energy-efficient
products and practices to market will require a multi-pronged approach. Upfront
cost of energy-efficient technologies is a significant hurdle for consumers and
advanced building techniques are not mainstream. Updated energy codes,
traditional mortgage rates for home buyers, financial incentives for buyers and
manufacturers of Energy Star-qualified homes, and low- or no-cost retrofit
programs for existing homes are all recommended in the report as strategies to
capitalize on the large potential for energy savings.
Source: American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy