Affordable Green Housing

Affordable Green Housing

When it comes to affordability, not much can beat a Manufactured Home built off-site or a metal building assembled on-site. The reason these two industries can achieve such inexpensive prices is due to efficiencies realized through factory construction and a reduction in labor. The answers about what is “affordable” is clear, but we perceive a problem because we are a society that’s used to getting what it wants, and we don’t want vinyl boxes with bland colors. As we design affordable housing, we must embrace the need to build from designs that remove as much labor from the process as possible. We must also embrace the need to down-size our lives and to reduce energy use as much as possible. Over the life of a building, the operational costs far outweigh the cost to build the building in the first place. So, what is “the smart money”? I say it’s making sure a house is insulated, at very least. What’s smarter is a solar design, because buildings can heat themselves in almost all climates. It’s fact, not theory. There is variability in pricing from contractor to contractor, due mainly to factors including necessary or desired profit margin, overall current demand for labor, economic conditions, etc. What is “affordable”? Though we should consider long-term costs in addition to first costs, affordable housing finds itself in a position where even first costs can be insurmountable. While there is truth in the statement that “green” design doesn’t cost more, it’s more correct to qualify the statement by saying that “green” design limits our options. “Green” design forces us to make choices, tradeoffs and sacrifices. However, it also keeps money in our pocket, our homes healthier and more comfortable, our environment cleaner and our childrens’ future brighter. Some people see “Green” design as a fad that preaches a select group of ideas and products when the old ways of doing things are working perfectly fine. Well, that’s wrong. “Green” design is as much about exposing what’s bad as what’s good.