With an emphasis on energy efficiency, Roy attended the Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) 2015 National Congress and Expo in Las Vegas, and notes some of the highlights from that event. He says Emanuel Levy from the Systems Building Research Alliance spoke of improved insulation and roof systems, as well as “mini-split” heat pumps that can produce a 75 percent savings in energy usage, well above the 20-30 percent savings the Department of Energy has planned for MH.
Roy was especially pleased to see that Cavco Industries received the Manufacturer of the Year Award for two homes that include some of these energy-saving devices.
Barry Noffsinger of CU Factory Built Lending described the Kentucky non-profit’s Next Step Network Alliance to provide residents of manufactured homes in Kentucky with Energy Star rated MH through a collaboration of utility companies, manufactured home industry leaders and lenders, retailers and other non-profits. The energy-efficient homes should save residents $800 a year in energy costs. As MHProNews reported April 7, 2015, fewer than one percent of the 2,000 homes sold annually in Kentucky in the last five years were Energy Star certified. The goal is to increases that to 50 percent.
Roy gave a presentation at Expo on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposed efficiency standards for MH to save 20-30 percent in energy costs while retaining affordability, which hopefully will be issued within the next month or two. Roy said he received a favorable reception from industry stakeholders to work together on this issue. He said: “All of this adds up to a great outlook for energy efficient, economic manufactured housing – and the millions of Americans living in these homes.” ##
(Image credit: construtech)
