Event Description

While offsite construction holds much promise, the reality of factory-built housing over the past few decades has seen a focus on least cost, not best performance. How does modular construction deliver like everything-factory-installed market-rate and affordable homes to urban infill and suburban locations. Is modular bucking the trend of using off-site construction to create building envelopes that help meet the rigorous performance criteria of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program? This presentation will share our experiences with these off-site systems, including costs, benefits, challenges, and tips for achieving near-zero energy and low-carbon performance. You’ll also see some data on off-site builders in DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home Program are doing to achieve as good, if not better, performance results compared to site-built homes in the DOE program.

Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*

- Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)

- Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse

- Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)

- Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)

- Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Health, Materials, Place

- American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)

- State Architect / Builder License may be applicable

- Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier

- Passive House Consultant US (CPHC)

Lessons Learned

1. Discuss what affordable housing means and looks like for such communities. What are the current challenges in providing good quality affordable housing?

2. Understand design insights that help deliver Zero Energy Ready, healthy, and decarbonized housing to the affordable housing market. How do these compare to current energy code requirements?

3. Discuss offsite's specific challenges for the urban environment. How to ensure safety and the least amount of hindrance for the neighboring occupants.

4. Analyze how modular construction contributed to the circular economy through offsite construction waste management that exceeds conventional construction.