6 Eco-Friendly Modular Homes That Make Stylish Sustainability Look Effortless
If you'd rather leave the design decisions to the professionals but lack the budget for a custom interior designer or architect, a modular home solution may be just the ticket.
Modular homes, also known as pre-fabricated dwellings, are designed and built in a factory before being moved and assembled on-site. You can easily spot them thanks to their modern, squared-off shapes that allow them to be pieced together like real-life LEGOs.
The perks of a modular home are plentiful, but one of the greatest reasons to go modular is the fact that most designs are inherently eco-friendly. They're known for featuring sustainable materials like repurposed timber, concrete, or natural slate, and often sport energy-efficient upgrades, like solar panels. While this may sound fancy and way over budget, eco-friendly modular homes are typically far less cost-prohibitive than a typical house. In addition to low maintenance materials, inexpensive upkeep, and a smaller footprint, there's also next to no time wasted when it comes to building and assembling a modular home, allowing you to keep costs at bay.
However, keep in mind you will still have to fork out cash for the land it sits on, not to mention finding a suitable plot can be difficult as some areas have zoning laws. Additionally, you are also responsible for the foundation, utility hookups, sewage, and landscaping. But don't fret, if building a modular home from the ground up doesn't appeal to you, you can always purchase one that has already been built.
Still interested? Ahead, we're sharing six eco-friendly modular homes that might just sell you on the idea.
1. The Cabin Series by Method Home, starting at $253,100
Method Homes
The Cabin Series by Method Homes ranges from 1,200 to 2,800 square feet, making them easily customizable based on the needs of you and your family. You can even opt to have the home stacked in a two-story application — an ideal solution for a smaller plot of land. Method Homes takes care with sustainable design measures like low- or no-VOC paint, FSC certified wood floors, pre-wiring for solar energy, and more.
2. HO4 Shipping Container Home, starting at $291,198
Honomobo
The HO4 Shipping Container Home optimizes indoor/outdoor living with one to two walls of floor-to-ceiling glass. The home comes solar-ready with an energy-efficient heat pump, and an ERV system for heating and cooling is standard.
3. GO Home by GO Logic, starting at $360,000
GO Logic
This charming two-story design by The GO Home by GO Logic features a covered porch, a kitchen pantry, powder room, mudroom, and laundry closet. Thanks to the GO Home building process — which includes an airtight shell, highly efficient insulation, and strategically planned window and door placement — these homes use just 10 percent of the energy consumed by a conventional code-compliant house.
4. Goldenrod-Morse Court by Ecocor, starting at $572,400
Ecocor
The Morse Court home by Ecocor gives off some serious Joanna Gaines vibes, without sacrificing energy-efficient and eco-friendly design choices. The building process focuses on airtight construction and triple-glazed windows to reduce energy usage while allowing enough customization to suit your budget.
5. Escher by New Frontier Tiny Homes, starting at $180,000
New Frontier Tiny Homes
If you thought tiny house living wasn't for you, then chances are you haven't seen the Escher home by New Frontier Tiny Homes. The chef's kitchen would be the envy of even the most opulent custom homeowner, and with two bedrooms you'll have plenty of room to spread out.
6. Koto x Abodu Homes, pricing upon request
Koto
These simple, timber-clad homes by Koto Design and Abodu are carbon-neutral dwellings that feature a compact layout. The effortless design marries minimalist Scandinavian style with a laidback California vibe that could make anyone feel as if they're on a permanent vacation.