"By the year 2025, modular homes are expected to be the dominant form of home building not only because of their higher quality and lesser costs but most importantly because of their eco-friendly superiorities." - Michael Zenga, ZN Custom Building
In addressing the ongoing concerns of our environment into the future, part of the puzzle involves home construction in general. Not only does home construction create significant waste and use significant energy in construction, but ongoing energy use once built continues to be important looking ahead. These simple facts are leading many to turn away from site built homes and begin looking into "going modular."
Did you know that modular homes create 90 percent less waste than site built home? Because modular homes are predominantly built in a factory setting, each step of the building process is streamlined. This allows maximal usage of materials and therefore less waste. Plus when the small amount of waste is accumulated, it is located in one location rather than multiple sites. This enables excellent opportunities for efficient recycling and waste management.
The factory setting also enables a more durable product that is greater in energy efficiency. By individually building and assembling modules of a modular home, better insulation techniques and a stronger more durable structure is possible. The ability to protect materials from the weather while being built in a factory further adds to the home's quality of construction. Over time, these factors reduce energy usage and markedly reduce future home repairs. Quality and better value provide longevity in a modular home's ability to be "green."
Something often overlooked is the number of subcontractors and time needed to build a site built home in contrast to a modular home. Imagine that an average site built home takes 14 months to build and requires frequent deliveries of building supplies and trips by local subcontractors to and from the site. Now replace that process with 4 months of modular home construction in a factory where all the supplies are delivered infrequently. The bottom line is that modular homes take half the time to construct and put into place and markedly reduce transportation and delivery trips. The end result is savings in energy usage and reduced toxic byproducts that could harm our environment.
What many fail to realize is that modular homes are held to the same local building codes as site built homes; and often their construction quality is superior. Likewise, a modular home can be customized into any design a homeowner desires using the best in "green" building materials. Examples may include WarmBoard Radiant subfloors, HardiPlank siding, Icynene insulation, and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. Each of these can be easily implemented in the factory setting along with energy efficient designs that optimize a home's ability to be environmentally friendly.
As we progressively focus on better ways to protect our environment, modular homes afford a great opportunity to reduce energy consumption, reduce waste, limit toxicities, and provide more durable homes. For today, modular homes are the best "green" home building technology.
Modular Homes, The Standard in 2025?
Modular Homes Speed Disaster Recovery
Modular homes are playing a crucial role in speeding disaster recovery in areas hit hard by recent disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. Because of the speed of construction, durability of construction, advanced engineering and lower costs, builders are increasingly turning to modular construction to replace what so many people lost and to establish structures that will better-stand the forces of severe weather in the future.
Modular homes, also called systems built homes, were long misunderstood by government oversight agencies and the general public, often confused with "manufactured homes" and mobile homes. However, perception has quickly changed as the affordability, energy efficiency, durability and speedy construction of modular homes has become more publicized and understood.
"Many people thought that modular homes were little more than cookie-cutter manufactured mobile homes," says Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, a nationwide provider of custom-designed modular homes. "But this assumption could not be further from the truth. In reality, modular homes are meeting housing needs nationwide, both for affordable, high-quality housing and for an expedient solution to help those displaced by hurricanes and other natural disasters. They are not cheaply built manufactured homes, but are engineering marvels that are stronger, more energy efficient and more cost effective than traditional site built homes."
Builders throughout the Southeast, in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, are using modular homes to rebuild cities and replace the government issued trailers that have served the residents as temporary housing since the disaster. Builders in Mississippi and Alabama have recently announced modular home designs that can withstand 150 – 160 MPH wind speeds.
Modular homes are being built at an average cost that is 20% less than traditional site built homes in New Orleans, one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Architects are working with modular home designers in New Orleans to create homes and buildings that emphasize the cities historical and cultural roots, as in the famous French Quarter of the city. Area builders say that modular construction is particularly cost efficient for them because of the high cost and short supply of labor and materials for on-site rebuilding.
Modular homes are constructed in pieces in controlled factory environments. The pieces are then shipped to the site where they are assembled. Because the pieces need to be shipped, they are built much stronger than traditional site built homes, using ten to fifteen percent more construction materials than are normally used. These safety benefits are passed on to the homebuyer, which is especially crucial in areas susceptible to hurricanes and other severe weather situations.
Modular homes are more energy efficient that traditional homes, leading the way in the green building movement, and are constructed in weeks rather than months, reducing the interest and number of payments on construction loans, thus reducing the overall cost to the homebuyers. Since modular home builders provide 80 to 85 percent of the home, the buyer avoids the risk of giving money to a builder and not having the home built to their specifications, or of having their price inflated by numerous change orders. All of these savings make modular homes a perfect solution for people trying to rebuild their lives and need all the financial resources they can spare.
Additionally, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing the costs of the project by adding additional materials and replacement components.
For more information on modular homes, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com.
About Modular Homes
Aren't modular homes the same as mobile homes? Not by a long shot! Modular homes are a revolutionary new product for the new home construction industry. Have you seen videos or television depictions of a state-of-the-art automobile manufacturing plant? If you have, imagine a brand new home being built the same way. But instead of the final home product being of a lesser quality, the home is built better and in less than half the time compared to standard new home construction. If you can envision this, then you are beginning to get the concept of modular homes.
Modular homes are more than 80 percent constructed in a large factory indoors away from the elements of the weather. The completed modular are then loaded onto a truck and lifted onto a foundation where the new homeowner awaits the finishing touches to complete the construction. Because the modules are transported to the site, the durability and strength have to be greater than a home built on-site. Estimates indicate these homes are therefore 20 percent stronger than your typical "site-built" home. Modules are then secured together with water, electricity, and sewage "tied in" after it has arrived. By the end, no one can tell the difference between a modular home and a site-built home.
But I am sure the designs are limited with this type of construction, right? Nope. Any design can be made into a modular home. Whether you bring plans to a modular home manufacturer, or select from the thousands of designs available, your dream home can be constructed by modular technology. Design architects who create wonderful modular homes are abundant, and many have selectively embraced this new method of home building. Having the ability to provide the homeowner with vast choices in design while saving resources in energy, labor, time and materials makes modular homes an easy choice.
Not only are modular home stronger than site-built homes and equal in design choices, but they cut the time of construction by more than half. Having the ability to work in a factory enables construction to be most efficient. No rain delays or freezing temperatures, no scheduling conflicts with subcontractors between different jobs, and no lost tools or having to travel to different job sites. Some large manufacturers produce as many as 6 to 8 homes a week. In the end, the homeowner wins because there is less time for construction loans to accrue interest and less time needed to pay for temporary housing during construction. Time is money.
Not only do modular homes save time and relate costs, but the total costs for a new home identical to a comparable site-built home is 10 to 20 percent less. These savings are immediately appreciated, but they are also a nice surprise when you plan to sell your home later. Modular homes accrue value as well (if not better) than site built homes, so putting in less money on the front end increases your equity on the back end. All in all, modular homes make perfect sense. If you are in the new home market, you should strongly consider modular home construction.
Modular Homes, The Future is so Bright!
Modular home construction has been around for a few decades now, but the technologies and designs continue to improve. Particularly in the last decade, the explosion of designs and the increase in availability of modular homes have rapidly increased the modular home as a wise choice of new home construction. But what is on the horizon? Anything is possible as global markets increase, national recession looms, and streamlining within the factory advances. Here are just a few possibilities to consider.
For almost 2 years, the U.S. real estate market in many areas has been experiencing a readjustment with home prices dropping and foreclosures rising. However, the population continues to increase and new home construction will rebound after market settling occurs. Given the recent experience of the homeowner and a national recession, attention to costs and investment potential will be at an all-time high. Since modular homes cost on average 20 percent less than site-built homes, surpass them in overall quality, and maintain a strong investment potential, you can anticipate seeing the percentage of new home construction awarded to modular home building to rise.
Factories that build modular homes continue to find ways to improve quality and design while lowering costs and waste. This drive for efficiency has created a secure spot for modular homes in the new home construction industry. As sub-specialists who make products that are attractive to these factories increase, a potential for outsourcing some components of the factory construction process may even improve their ability to save costs further. For instance, prefabricated wall panels are already being used by some modular home factories to reduce labor demands for wall assembly. These panelized wall distributors can provide these at a lower cost than the expense it takes a factory to supply materials and labor for wall assembly. Expect further streamlining within the factory setting through outsourcing measures.
Remember when Japanese cars overtook the American car industry a few decades ago globally? Be cautious of a similar trend in modular home construction. If labor costs (which are the most costly expenses for modular home factories) can be markedly reduced by placing factories in China or South America, this could offset shipping costs of modules and importation fees. It may well be that your new modular home could be assembled half way across the world before it ends up on your lot.
The end result is that the market share of modular homes in new construction is predicted to rise, and there are potential avenues where costs for new homes could drop even further by paying attention to the above areas and others. In addition, the capacity for recycling efforts and the attention being given to designing "green" modular homes will drive those that are environmentally conscious to strongly consider this as the best option. Combining these aspects in the industry with the ability of modular homes to meet the high design demands of the consumer, it seems obvious that this industry has a stronghold for the future.
Modular Homes: Built Better to Meet Today's demanding Housing Market
Today's Modular homes are built better, of finer materials under controlled conditions to give the consumer the best value in affordable housing
There are many reasons to consider buying a modular home these days. Today people are looking for value for every dollar spent, and modular homes offer just that. With the improvement in quality of modular homes, they can be a better choice then conventional construction in most areas. And don't think that modular homes can't live up to that dream house of fantasy. Today modular homes are built to more varied specifications and architectural designs then ever before including multi level, split level, post modernistic and many traditional styles. If it can be envisioned, more then likely there is a company that can modularize its construction. Here are some of the reasons that modular homes are such a great value.
They can be completed Faster
Modular homes from start to finish can be built faster because the greatest portion of construction, including HVAC electrical and plumbing are completed under what are usually controlled climate conditions in a factory. Most everything is completed at the factory including the installation of cabinets and doors. Most fixtures, plumbing and electrical are in place before the modular home leaves the factory. When the modular home arrives on site ready to set on its foundation, there is less for contractors and subcontractors to complete. This saves a lot of time due to weather and scheduling issues that always seem to arise with traditional construction. That means savings of time and as everyone knows, time is money, especially in home construction
Saving on construction time saves big interest
With a typical construction loan, the first payments are basically interest. A common construction loan for a conventionally constructed home can be anywhere from 6 to 12 months long. With that in mind, consider how much will be saved in interest on the loan before it is converted to a conventional mortgage, if the construction time is cut from 6 months to 2 months. On bigger projects, the savings will be even greater. If you are required to carry the construction insurance modular homes can save even more. Because the structure is not exposed to acts of nature during critical stages of framing and construction, insurance rates are much more reasonable as well.
Less Wasted Material
Because modular homes are constructed under climate controlled factory conditions, material loss is kept to a minimum. On conventional construction sites, losses can add up to big dollars, due to poor weather, theft, and over all poor construction conditions, making modular home construction again more cost effective.
More durable construction
Because modular homes must be transported sometimes many hundreds of miles from the factory to where they will be placed on a foundation, they are held to a much higher standard in most areas of construction, to be able to withstand being moved. Better flooring which can be varied may include engineered floors on top of thicker nailed AND glued sub floors. Double and heftier constructed rim joists and thicker wallboard on ceilings and walls. Many of the added supports and bracing that are required for transportation can be left in place upon arrival which makes for a stronger more durable structure that holds up to the forces of nature better then do most conventionally constructed homes.
So if its time to consider a new home, its time to consider a modular home. The advantages are many the savings are great and the risks are few to none. Lending institutions are aware of modular home advantages and many times are more willing to process loans accordingly. Modular homes have come a long way since first conceived of. Modular housing is no long to be considered second class housing as it once might have been. Today it is top quality and rivals any home construction method available.
Why Pick a Modular Home?
Modular homes, a factory product, are built as different sections so that they can match with all state, local or regional building codes of where you wish to live. These sections are then transported to the home site where they are raised onto foundations and fixed there permanently.
Generally, modular homes are designed to be initially stronger than site-built homes for example by replacing nails with screws and adding glue to joints. This helps the modules to maintain their structural integrity as they are transported on trucks over major highways to the construction site. Even though the modular home is found to be stronger than a stick built home, it is hard to predict the final building strength as it needs to withstand transportation stresses that the site-built homes never experience.
The modular home construction process is smooth and efficient. The construction time period needed to construct a home may vary depending on the home selected. As modular homes construction is constrained in a climate-controlled situation, the chance for moisture, rain or weather to delay construction, presence of dampness etc will be very less. Mold and mildew have little opportunity to grow in your new built modular home. For families with very sensitive members, the final product is an allergy free home to lead a healthier life.
Another advantage of modular home to be noted is in terms of durability. Modular homes have to travel a lot to reach the final site. Manufactures make out modular homes with this idea in mind and provide a durable product that can withstand the side effects of transportation. True modular homes have more flexibility as compared to on-frame modular homes. A perfect modular home can be built from existing plans or from custom plans generated by an architect. Also, a modular home producer's uses computer generated plans to meet all national, state, and local building standards.
Material waste is very much less when compared to site built homes resulting much saving of money to home owners. This is because the lumber that is removed after construction of one house can be taken for the construction of the new house.
The uniqueness of modular home is it is built in a climate-controlled factory and building in this way reduces the chances of weather related delays or problems. To add to it, the fact that building supplies are stored in on-site warehouses, it also virtually eliminates the chance that wet materials will be used when building the modular home.
Don't jump into a decision. Have a talk with manufactures to help design your own modular dream home. Make your dream home into a reality by exploring additional features and benefits of modular homes.
Modular Homes Answer Affordable Housing Needs
The recent nationwide housing slump, which has left many homebuyers to experience the downside of Adjustable Rate Mortgages and feel the crush of rising mortgage payments, is also affecting the home construction industry, putting many builders and industry sub-contractors in very tight financial straits.
This trend is not true in the modular homes industry, however. The demand for new homes is still high, and homebuyers are increasingly seeking alternatives to rising new home prices and interest rates. One growing alternative is modular homes. Modular home building is on the rise and is becoming more popular with homebuilders and homeowners each day.
Why? Public perception towards the industry has changed as more people have come to understand the structural, construction and cost benefits of modular housing. Modular homebuilders are providing solutions to the need for affordable housing, by using advanced engineering and building systems to provide quality, attractive home designs at affordable cost and at a fraction of construction time.
Modular homes are constructed in pieces in controlled factory environments. Factory production means fewer accidents and mistakes and a more predictable product and time frame. The pieces are then shipped to the site where they are assembled. Because the pieces need to be shipped, they are built much stronger than traditional site built homes, using ten to fifteen percent more construction materials than are normally used. Modular homes also offer a much higher quality control standard, with so many third-party inspectors, engineers and architects involved.
Since modular home builders provide 80 to 85 percent of the home, the buyer avoids the risk of giving money to a builder and not having the home built to their specifications, or of having their price inflated by numerous change orders. Additionally, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing the costs of the project by adding additional materials and replacement components.
All of these savings are passed on to the homebuyer. And, because the construction time is greatly shortened as compared to the time frame needed for a traditional site built home, homebuyers reap the benefits of lower interest rates and fewer payments on construction loans. Although they were wary at first, mortgage lenders are seeing the rapid growth in the sale of modular homes and are thus adjusting their practices to accommodate this growing market of homebuyers.
Modular homes are not only on the rise in the United States. Homebuilders around the globe are seeing modular homes as an answer to both the growing need for affordable housing and the increasing industry demand for green building and energy efficient construction. For example, modular homes are currently being used to ease the affordable housing crisis in the Highlands of Scotland. The planned £20million construction project will provide dozens of pre-built houses, and will see modular houses built in eight Highland areas over the next three years.
Because of the focus on energy efficiency, architectural and design communities worldwide are coming together to create innovative designs for homes of all shapes, sizes and tastes. Custom modular homebuilders, such as Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, a custom modular homebuilder based in Atlanta, GA, are encouraging consumers who are not yet familiar with the options available in modular homes to educate themselves about the benefits of these advancements in engineering, architectural design and systems-based construction.
"Don't let these innovative designs and new home building technologies pass you by," Smereczynsky says. "Take advantage of benefits and opportunities available to home buyers of affordable luxury and custom dream homes, as well as energy efficiency and increased durability and safety that modular homes and modular home builders provide."
For more information on modular homes, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com/.
Modular Homes Make Luxury Affordable
The Heritage, a 6800 square foot home appraised at $895,000, provides a breathtaking example of what the newest home construction technologies and trends are making available to homebuyers through modular homes.
Called the "modular mansion", this immaculate home is the most recent custom modular home offering from Building Systems Network, a nationwide modular homes builder and designer of custom modular home plans. The Homestead is one of the largest and highest appraised home built by Building Systems Network, and demonstrates the trend in American homebuilding of combining the advanced technologies of the modular building process with hand-craftsmanship and custom finishes to provide luxurious homes at significantly less cost than that required by a traditional site built home.
The Heritage not only demonstrates the elegance and innovation of BSN's custom modular home designs, but also the infinite possibilities available to homebuyers through modular home technology. Modular homes are constructed in the same steps as traditionally built homes but, because many of the components are pre-constructed, homes require less "site-building" time and are completed at a fraction of a traditional home build. Modular homes are also built with stronger components than traditional site built homes, utilizing ten to fifteen percent more construction materials to ensure the maximum strength and durability of all home components.
Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, is actively encouraging consumers to take advantage of the benefits and opportunities available to them through new homebuilding technologies and trends, and to educate themselves on the possibilities provided by modular homes.
"The Homestead and other BSN modular homes represent a significant development in home construction technologies, and a brighter future for homebuyers," Smereczynsky says. "Homebuyers of modular homes reap the benefits of the cost savings provided by the systems-built process while attaining their dream home exactly the way they envisioned it."
Some of the benefits of utilizing the modular homes, systems-built construction process are significantly reduced construction time, which saves interest on construction loans, as well as considerable savings in materials costs due to the high-volume purchasing abilities of systems-built production facilities.
Modular homes, or systems-built homes, are constructed under optimum building conditions within controlled environments at fractions of the cost and time required by traditional site-built homes. Since the modular homebuilder provides 80 to 85 percent of the home, buyers do not face the risk of giving money to a builder and not having a home built to their specifications.
Additionally, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing the costs of the project by adding additional materials and replacement components.
For more information on The Homestead and other BSN luxury custom modular homes and custom modular home floor plans, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com/.
Modular Homes Lead Industry Green Building Efforts
Modular homes and custom modular homebuilders are quickly reinventing the homebuilding industry. Because of the focus on energy efficiency, architectural and design communities worldwide are coming together to create innovative designs for homes of all shapes, sizes and tastes. Not only are modular homes providing affordable housing solutions because they are constructed more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional site built homes, modular home builders are also leading the way in sustainable new home construction and environmental preservation through green building.
Modular homes are constructed in pieces in controlled factory environments. Factory production means fewer accidents and mistakes and a more predictable product and time frame. The pieces are then shipped to the site where they are assembled. Because the pieces need to be shipped, they are built much stronger than traditional site built home structures and components, using ten to fifteen percent more construction materials than are normally used. Modular homes also offer a much higher quality control standard, with so many third-party inspectors, engineers and architects involved.
Since modular home builders provide 80 to 85 percent of the home, the buyer avoids the risk of giving money to a builder and not having the home built to their specifications, or of having their price inflated by numerous change orders. Additionally, unlike modular homes, site-built homes are exposed to unfavorable weather conditions during the construction process, making the home vulnerable to water or weather damage, and increasing the costs of the project by adding additional materials and replacement components. All of these cost savings are passed on to the consumer, giving them more home for their money, but also giving builders more leeway to incorporate energy saving building best practices and products and services into their construction processes.
For builders, most green building benefits come from then flexibility inherent in the design and engineering of modular home systems. Modular homes are built stronger that traditional homes. They produce less waste because of reduced construction time, and less time needed on a site means less damage to the home site and surrounding environment. In addition, the design flexibility and innovation combined with the use of non-traditional building materials enable homebuilders and designers to build around existing trees and wildlife, creating new homes that are less intrusive to their environments.
Modular, or systems built, components are pre-treated before they are shipped to the site. This pretreatment reduces the amount of chemical vapors that enter the home upon construction, resulting in better air quality from the beginning. In addition, the internal structure of the home is protected from mold or water damage by the tightly controlled environments within the factories. Because construction can be completed in a fraction of the time necessary for traditional homes, there is less site waste, less threat of internal air quality deterioration and reduced chance of structure damage.
Wood for home components is delivered to factories at pre-cut lengths to further reduce waste, and many modular homes factories and materials suppliers employ extensive recycling programs to reduce excess or return materials to the environment. Additionally, many builders take site selection into account to maximize natural lighting, heating and cooling capabilities, as well as other water efficiency, day lighting, ecopower, improved erosion control and environmentally friendly building materials considerations. Other green building practices include increasing slab insulation, using solvent-free foundation sealants, increasing fly-ash content in concrete, improving foundation drainage, providing ventilation for radon and other tactics.
The speed of construction reduces the cost of modular homes, making them an ideal solution both to current affordable housing needs worldwide and also to homeowners seeking relief from recent hikes in utility costs. The reduced construction loan costs and interest amounts combined with lower pricing per square foot as compared to traditional site built homes enables home buyers and builders to focus their home construction dollars on energy efficient water and power systems. These can be as simple as energy efficient water heaters and appliances, or as complex as solar panels or gray water systems.
Many modular homes today are being constructed in such a way as to maximize daylight and reduce or, in some cases, completely eliminate the need for electrical lighting during the day. For example, the Venice, California MCube, designed by Mdesigns, utilizes a Japanese shoji inspired construction with translucent light emitting walls that let in natural light without heat radiation. The house also boasts solar radiant-heated floors, solar heated water and photovoltaic roof panels. This is just one example of the innovative designs emerging from architects and engineers worldwide. Pictures of the house are available at inhabitat.com.
Custom modular homebuilders, such as Grant Smereczynsky, CEO of Building Systems Network, a custom modular homebuilder based in Atlanta, GA, are encouraging consumers who are not yet familiar with the options available in modular homes to educate themselves about the benefits of these advancements in engineering, architectural design and systems-based construction.
For more information on modular green building and modular homes, visit http://www.buildingsystemsnetwork.com.
Why Build Your Home Modular?
It seems like a question that is becoming more popular as more people hear success stories from choosing this form of new home construction. There are several reasons why modular homes are becoming more popular and increasingly taking over a larger segment of the new housing market. Here are the key reasons.
Higher quality - Modular homes are not manufactured homes or mobile homes. Modular homes are constructed with the exact same materials as site-built homes and by the same building code standards. However, because these homes are transported from the factory to your building site, extra measures to improve durability and strength are added. As a result, this makes modular homes actually superior to site-built homes in quality.
Less expensive - Modular homes are built in a factory setting away from the weather and in a setting where construction efficiently moves forward at a rapid pace. As a result, the time to build a modular home is less than half the time required to build a site-built home. This save tremendous time in construction costs for both the manufacturer and consumer. In addition, there is less waste and better use of materials. In the end, modular homes cost about 20 percent less than site-built.
Design savvy - You may think design options are limited for modular homes, but any design you want can be made by modular home building techniques. Any architectural plan can be accommodated by most manufacturers. Consumers expect a degree of design options and styles, and this has been the focus of the modular industry. Even home designers and architects alike have embraced modular technology.
Better investment - Combining high quality with less expensive costs clearly makes for a better home investment. In today's climate of rising foreclosures and looming recession, modular homes are making more sense than ever before.
Time efficient - In a rush for that new home? Want to cut your construction loan time in half and get out of the temporary rental? Then modular is the way to go. In one study, identically designed homes were built on site and in the modular factory. The end result demonstrated that it took 10 months from start to finish for a modular home (including design, financing and construction) to be completed, but 21 months for a site-built home. Time is of the essence!
"Greener" - With less waste and an ability to attend to greater recycling efforts from the factory setting, the modular home industry focuses on the environment to a much greater extent than site-built homes. In addition, architectural designs are continually creating better modular features to augment energy efficiency. Solar panels, reduced "non-livable' space, and better airflow patterns are just some recent features added that show this industry's attention to being "green".
There are several other reasons as well, but the above highlight the major aspects of how modular homes are rising above other options for new homes. The best part is that unless you see a modular home assembled, you would never be able to tell the difference from a site-built home. The fact is many of your neighbor's homes are likely modular, and you never even knew it.