Photo by Lannie Boesiger, courtesy Method Homes

by Elemental Green Staff with updates by Brian Libby

BENEFITS OF PREFAB

The cost of building a custom new home continues to go up. According to HomeAdvisor, the average new home built in the United States was $287,982 in early 2021, but with more aspiring buyers than sellers, that figure is rising. And the alternative, an existing home, is no better bargain. The National Association of Realtors reported in March of 2021 a 17-percent gain gain in existing-home sales prices.

For those seeking a more affordable and sustainable way to own a new home, prefabricated and modular homes offer high-quality design at what’s often a smaller per-square-foot cost. Built in a factory and shipped in pieces to be assembled onsite (or in some cases, built almost in their entirety at a factory), they are more quickly constructed than traditional stick-built homes. Prefabs also offer bold, distinctive style—often by top designers—without hiring an architect and without settling for an unsophisticated house plan. 

Although there are high-cost options in the prefab world too, we found 18 that offer good value at their price points. And that’s just the beginning of the long list of benefits that come with deciding to go the prefab route. Learn more about the benefits of prefabs and check out these sustainable options so you can start researching your smart new abode.

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LIVINGHOME 6 SERIES

Santa Monica, California-based Plant Prefab offers two different models in its popular LivingHome series, which was the first in America to achieve LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and first to use products certified by the respected Cradle to Cradle program such as cork flooring, low-VOC paints and low-flow water fixtures. Not to mention their net zero standards, smart home technology and energy monitoring. Its LivingHome 6 Series is available in two models.

The smaller one, with two bedrooms and one bath at 958 square feet, can be upgraded to three bedrooms and two baths (at 1,288 square feet). The house’s U-shaped configuration spreads natural light. With a base cost of $260,000 for fabrication (about $175 per square foot), it offers plenty of space and outdoor mobility at an affordable price (remember to account for additional site work, transportation and installation, and design, engineering and permitting costs). And for those seeking even more compact design, Plant Prefab’s LivingHome 10 is available, with one bedroom and one bath across 496 square feet for a base price of $180,000 (or $355,000 once you add in the rest of the aforementioned costs).

IDEABOX – SAGE HOUSE

IdeaBox is like the Ikea of prefab houses—the design possibilities are endless! The Salem, Oregon-based company’s designers are experts at using the prefab and modular housing system to create cost-effective, sustainable, and imaginative housing. Each IdeaBox home is designed with sustainable bamboo flooring and energy-efficient construction, and Confluence is a perfect example. This two bedroom and two-bath modern cottage, with a base price of $258,000, is flexible, rugged, and spacious.

While Confluence isn’t big, it’s definitely not small! A large living space is anchored by a chef-inspired kitchen. Large sliding glass doors open up the whole house to light and fresh air. Two large bedrooms each with their own bath are opposite each other for privacy. For large living in a smaller, sustainable space, Confluence is the perfect fit. Homes can be customized, or browse all of their models. 

GREENFAB 1200 SERIES

Greenfab builds highly energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable homes and is committed to making them more accessible and affordable for everyone. Homes by this Seattle designer-manufacturer minimize exposure to environmental toxins by increasing air circulation and filtering harmful particulates, while emphasizing VOC-free and formaldehyde-free paints, finishes and adhesives. Thanks to robust insulation, they’re efficient to heat and cool; plus, they feature Energy Star appliances and optional rainwater and greywater systems for water conservation.

Greenfab builds custom homes and has pre-designed options as well. They work with clients from beginning to end, finding land, figuring out a budget, designing the home—everything. They also create a secure website to track every detail about the creation of your home, so you can check in 24/7! The 1200 Series is an elegant blend of space and function using a nice 1,200-square-foot layout with a courtyard feeling. Even with a small 74’-by-40’ footprint you can have up to three bedrooms. Prices vary depending on many variables, but Greenfab estimates $20,000-$80,000 for pre-construction costs and $350 to $500 per square foot for construction costs (based on Seattle-area prices).

GO HOME BY GO LOGIC

The GO Home line of prefab passive-house dwellings by GO Home (designed to use 80 percent less energy than the average home) has a more traditional aesthetic and can be assembled onsite in less than two weeks. Their portfolio ranges from a 600-square-foot, single-bedroom cottage to a 2,300-square-foot, four-bedroom family home. Clients choose their base model and preferred exterior cladding—fiber-cement clapboard, cedar shingles, charred cedar, or corrugated steel—as well as options for windows, trim, flooring, and interior hardware.

The GO Home base price, ranging from $165,000 for 600 square feet to $609,000 for 2,300 square feet, covers the complete construction of your home (excluding design and site costs), from their slab-on-grade foundation through all finishes. Just as importantly, each prefab design is still, in the company’s eyes, a custom design: a chance to tailor each house to the client’s needs.

ARK-SHELTER

Ark-Shelter was created by architecture students from Belgium who “desire to reinvent how people live their lives.” Simple and elegant boxes bookended with walls of glass, these zero-impact designs connect with nature, are built to last and save energy. On the inside, you’ll find a built-in platform bed adjoining a large picture window, plus a fireplace, table for two, full kitchen, and bathroom. The floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the structure offer plenty of natural light. Also, with sides that fold open, the home becomes an extension of nature.

Not only does this prefab come fully furnished (with everything from appliances to kitchen utensils), but it can also be shipped and installed practically anywhere. Plus, you can make it completely sustainable with their rainwater collection system (that filters water three times) and solar power panels. The company does not divulge prices, but our research found that the smallest models, the 396-square-foot Shelter S and the 386-square-foot Lodge, have a base price of about $77,000 and $60,000, respectively. Editor’s Note: Ark-Shelter homes currently only ship to Europe.

DELTEC HOMES CLASSIC 360 COLLECTION

Why not try a circular-shaped house? Deltec Homes helps you achieve your desired level of sustainability: from simple energy efficiency to net-zero and beyond. Each home is built in a factory powered with 100% renewable energy. In the Classic Deltec models, the self-supporting roof system means no load-bearing walls so they can create any floor plan imaginable. The round shape also allows you to capture panoramic views and truly bring the outdoors in, all while remaining shaded. The 360 Collection includes versions starting at a base price of $148,000 for two bedrooms and 1,357 square feet (or $500,000-$710,000 for turnkey), or three bedrooms and 2,070 square feet (shown) at $250,000-$361,000 for the shell (and $780,000-$990,000 for turnkey). Also check out their Renew Collection: pre-designed homes that use two-thirds less energy than a typical home.

BUILD WITH NATURE

Upstate New York’s Build With Nature combines prefabrication and passive house methods with one of nature’s most renewable materials: straw. For centuries, straw has been known as an ideal insulation material, but the bulk of traditional straw bales and concerns about pest infiltration kept the material from going mainstream. But Build With Nature houses make use of EcoCocon prefabricated straw-based panels. The company’s first house, 366 square feet with a 350-square-foot deck, was featured on the Discovery Channel TV show “Living Off-Grid.” Build With Nature now offers what they call kit homes utilizing straw panels. Check their website for pricing. Image credit: EcoCocon building, Photo by Milan Hutera, Courtesy Build With Nature

BRIGHT BUILT HOME BUNGALOW

Portland, Maine-based BrightBuilt Home delivers beautiful traditionally-styled prefabricated homes that will not only fit well into any neighborhood but also boast net-zero energy usage thanks to their rooftop solar panels and tightly sealed building envelopes. The smallest option, the Sidekick, works as a very small one to two-bedroom, 560 to 742-square-foot house or as an accessory dwelling unit. For a more medium-sized option, try the Bungalow, at two to four bedrooms and 1,150-1,700 square feet. The company, which does not disclose prices, tailors each prefabricated house to its site and clients through an initial design stage. Photo courtesy BrightBuilt Home

Learn more about having a green home on a budget!