The fabricated housing market has exploded in ways most could not expect. Now comes an interesting turn – green building prefab housing.

Let’s be honest. Prefab or manufactured housing was long looked at as the poor sister of the housing industry. Design styles were wretched and, if possible, the quality of work was even worse. Surprisingly, that has all changed as new parties have become involved. Heck, even Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is now a big investor in the industry. 

Knowing a good thing when they see it, many of the prefab home manufacturers are going green. In a down housing market, every edge is needed and consumers are fascinated by energy efficiency and green building. One would like to think the manufacturers are being altruistic, but I somehow doubt that a bit. 

So, what are we seeing with the move towards green building ideals? Well, the first one is simple. Most are being certified under the energy star program, which means they are 20 percent more efficient than the normal home. From there, the differences are significant. Most incorporate active and passive solar concepts as well as one variation or another on green insulation approaches. 

Are prefab green homes the wave of the future? It is anybody’s guess. The current state of the housing market would seem to suggest there is a definite niche for them. Should the market bounce back robustly, however, one has to wonder how many people in the mass market will want to live in such homes.

Perhaps we will be surprised.