ECOFAB

The decision to work with pre-fabricated components is in itself a step in the right direction to produce a sustainable home. Pre-fabrication of some or many components of a house can reduce resources and energy used during construction and eventually increase energy efficiency after move-in.

The process of pre-fabricating in an interior environment avoids weather exposure of timber framing, which helps keep mold away. Pre-fabricated elements are also built to tighter tolerances, which means less air infiltration, better insulation, less energy needed to heat or cool the home.

The best way to ensure that a pre-fab home will be sustainable, is find a team of people dedicated to designing and building a sustainable home: find an architect who will help define your project ambitions and scope and begin the design process; then find a pre-fabrication company that produces locally, and who is committed to choosing materials and systems that are sustainable; finally find a local contractor or builder who will work, with the rest of the team, to build a sustainable project, from sitework to interior finishes.

There are many elements to sustainability in construction. Similar to any building construction, these elements for a pre-fabricated home can be categorized into components.

SITING
The house should be designed and oriented so as to take advantage of views, of natural daylight, of breezes; and to minimize solar gain and excessive wind exposure.
Designing to heat and cool naturally will reduce energy consumption.
Working with the natural terrain reduces unnecessary grading and deforestation.

DESIGN OF SPACES
Designing efficiently reduces the size of a home without compromising on functionality: multi-function rooms, open-space planning for larger gatherings, for example.
Designing for flexibility and longevity will allow owners to live there longer and will make the house attractive to the next generation of home-owners.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Smart controls for lighting, heating and air conditioning allow homeowners to heat and cool only the areas to be used, allow easy control of which lights are on, off or dimmed.
An efficient building envelope (well-insulated and weather-tight) increases the efficiency of the energy systems of the house.
Efficient fixtures, efficient appliances, efficient heating and cooling systems are key to the overall sustainability of the home.
Alternative energy sources such as geothermal heating/cooling, solar power, wind power, can greatly reduce the need for outside power.
Monitoring systems help gauge the efficiency of the respective systems.

MATERIALS & RESOURCES
There are many structural material choices, and each has advantages and disadvantages:
Timber frames can be re-used or recycled
Steel frames can be made of partially recycled materials
Structural insulated panels are made of recycled materials and produce a highly efficient wall
Reused materials – reclaimed wood, engineered lumber
A modified pre-existing prefabricated product can be converted into a home (containers, for example)
Insulating Concrete Form foundations can be very insulating and weather-tight. Unlike traditional concrete pouring methods, the concrete forms here become part of the wall, so reduce the need for wood forms which have a limited life.

The choice of interior materials & finishes, and the way in which they are installed, can have a great effect on the carbon footprint of the house’s construction, as well as contribute to better-quality indoor air.
Renewable materials – bamboo
Sustainably harvested materials – certification by FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or other
Naturally materials – wheatboard, particleboard (with low VOCs)
Recycled materials – recycled glass or fly ash concrete with recycled porcelain for countertops, composite decking (recycled plastic & sawdust)
Reused materials – reclaimed wood, engineered lumber

WATER EFFICIENCY
Water conservation is key to any sustainably responsible project:
Reduce water intake by choosing energy-efficient fixtures
Reuse water by harvesting rainwater for landscaping purposes
Recycle water by treating waste water onsite

Tags: alternative energy sources, building envelope, Container Homes, Eco Friendly, energy efficiency, Hay Bail Home, multi-function rooms, natural daylight, Pre-fabricated components, Prefab, Prefabricated Homes, recycled materials, smart controls, structural material, Sustainability, water efficiency