Following the Green Revolution | Modular Construction

A new study from Nils Kok and Matthew E. Kahn, recently was published and found that green certified homes in the state of California were valued an average of 9 percent higher than non-green certified comparable properties.

In The Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market, Kok and Kahn analyzed 1.6 million single-family property sales in California between 2007 and 2012. Their research found that homes with an Energy Star rating, LEED certification or properties that were Greenpoint Rated were valued higher than homes without these standards.

Eminently useful for the creation of green housing, modular construction is the process of creating several sections of a building in a controlled factory environment, called "modules”. As the modules are being constructed, site work begins on the foundation, utilities and site grading. The modules are then transported to the job site and installed before applying final interior and exterior finishes. This reduces the amount of construction that needs to be done on the actual building site and, consequently, the environmental footprint of the entire building zone is reduced. Modular construction can also include increased energy efficiency, meeting many of the green standards.

The reduction of the ecological footprint and increased energy efficiency provides a future precedent for green housing. Green housing is the crucial practice of creating housing that does not damage the environment and, in fact, considers the environment before the needs of its residents. It is entirely possible to create a building that services the environment as well as its residents, and with plenty of technology available to care for the earth, it's an imperative to choose green development. The future of the earth depends on green projects to advance.

Modular Buildings as Swing Space

During new construction and renovation projects occupants are often temporarily displaced. Modular buildings can be used as swing space to create a quick temporary physical location for organizations and/or employees displaced by construction and renovation projects. The utilization of swing space allow organizations to seamlessly transition through the construction process, without having to close their doors. This prevents revenue loss and avoids missed days due to unforeseen site closures. Organizations are able to keep their doors open and continue daily operations.

A variety of modular solutions are available to meet the needs of each end user. Temporary buildings are an optimal choice for an organization that has evolving needs for space because they can be quickly added or removed. The most common use for temporary buildings is to act as a supplement during a renovation. Swing space buildings are often installed adjacent to the existing facility, offering a convenient solution for organizations to operate. There are a huge number of selections available that are environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and functional.
 

There are many great reasons to choose modular buildings for swing space use. Environmental friendliness, such as recycled materials if the organization uses a pre-leased building, aesthetic appeal, a high degree of function, flexibility and speed are all major benefits. Take the time to explore what a modular building can offer your organization or project. You may be surprised with the versatility available.

History of Modular Buildings

A modular building is a pre-fabricated unit primarily made in a factory and transferred to a building site. It can be used individually or attached to several other modular units to make a larger building. Since these structures are easy to work with, they are often used for housing, classrooms, offices and medical clinics. Their endless benefits, including quick construction and environmentally friendly designs, have led modular buildings to be the face of the future.

Modular construction may be increasing in popularity, but this pre-fabrication is nothing new. Modular construction dates back to the early 1900s when Sears Roebuck Co. sold over 75,000 pre-built modular homes from 1908 to 1940. The home-building kits were sold in the Sears catalog and contained all of the materials needed to build a home. They included 30,000 pieces and a 70-page instruction booklet.

The 44 styles of modular homes ranged in price from $700 to $4,000. Buyers were able to browse through the catalog, choose a style of their choice and send in a small fee. Their materials would then arrive off the railway and included nails, shingles, paint and varnish. Although the modular construction industry had gone off without a hitch, the Great Depression caused sales to drop by 40 percent in one year.

Sears quietly fell off the radar during the Great Depression, but by the end of World War II, modular homes began regaining their popularity. Soldiers returning from the war wanted to purchase a home and start a family, and the demand for this immediate housing was more than what was available on the market. Modular homes made the perfect solution as they could be erected quickly and efficiently.

While modular homes where popular since the early 1900’s it wasn’t until 1958 that modular buildings became a popular way to construct schools, businesses and medical facilities. Modular construction has now advanced to cover all different markets. Today, modular buildings have a distinguished style and utilize state-of-the-art technologies to be exceptionally creative and efficient. They can be built to customized specifications and used across various applications, including business, retail& hospitality, government and homes. Since the materials used in these structures are the same as on-site construction, it’s near impossible to tell a modular structure apart from another. With unprecedented functionality and beauty, we can expect to see modular buildings in all facets of construction. 

Building Green: The New Global Movement

As is the case for many types of businesses, the energy costs associated with construction continue to increase. Rising energy prices have encouraged the construction market to join the global going green movement. The keys to building green involve the use of new technology and materials in order to reduce energy costs. Undoubtedly two general areas to see these innovations taking place are in school buildings and health care facilities.

In many regions, children are educated in buildings that are at least 50 years old. These older buildings drain energy resources through their outdated equipment, poor insulation and are often overcrowded. Many of these schools desperately need to expand and or replace their outdated buildings in order to accommodate their growing population and reduce energy waste but schools fear the high costs that come with constructing new buildings.

Going green by using modular construction, helps lower the concern about costs for schools. Regardless of initial costs of construction, incorporating modular green construction can reduce the school's overall operational costs. Environmentally, a school that uses a green modular building can increase its energy efficiency, provides a more comfortable and healthier atmosphere for students and decreases the amount of product waste. This can be achieved for example; by re-using entire buildings of major components, installing energy efficient fixtures and using better insulation

While medical facilities are generally less out of date than many school buildings are, they also face rising energy costs, budget restrictions and the need to expand their facilities. Building green health care centers offers all of the same environmental values that schools using modular construction enjoy.

While rising energy costs make going green a global effort for businesses these days, many communities can experience the benefits close to home. Modular construction allows schools and health care clinics to reduce their budgetary strain, while also allowing for the physical expansion both of these facilities need in order to reach their full potential.