Anyone Going For A Trailer Ride?

Wie Geht Es Dir~

How is everyone doing? Busy with your business schedule or having some fun activities? As for me, it's been a real hectic (but a satisfying) month. My business partner and I had just captured a contract for an energy efficiency project. It'll be a very busy time for months to come, so I've decided to go for a holiday trip. As I was browsing for the holiday packages, I chanced upon "Mobile Home" holiday trip. I have not tried a holiday trip driving a trailer before but I am sure to go for it. And I'll go for the more energy efficient ones.

Definition Of Mobile Homes

A mobile home (also trailer, trailer home, house trailer, static caravan, residential caravan) is a prefabricated structure, built in a factory on a permanently attached chassis before being transported to site (either by being towed or on a trailer). Used as permanent homes, for holiday or temporary accommodation, they are left often permanently or semi-permanently in one place, but can be moved, and may be required to move from time to time for legal reasons.

Mobile homes share the same historic origins as travel trailers, but today the two are very different in size and furnishings, with travel trailers being used primarily as temporary or vacation homes. Behind the cosmetic work fitted at installation to hide the base, there are strong trailer frames, axles, wheels, and tow-hitches.

How Energy Efficient Are Mobile Homes?

Like site-built homes, new manufactured homes (formerly known as mobile homes) can be designed for energy efficiency and renewable energy. You can also remodel or retrofit older manufactured homes to improve energy efficiency and/or add renewable energy equipment. Manufactured homes are built in a factory on a permanent chassis, then transported to a building site and installed.

It is estimated that the typical manufactured home will save 27% of energy use compared to a home that meets the current HUD Code. Average lifetime savings for homeowners are estimated at almost RM17,000 net present value. Cumulative national savings include 2.3 quadrillion Btu of energy (equivalent to the energy use in one year of all homes in New York and Florida), RM13-47 billion customer benefits (depending on discount rate), and 160 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

How To Make A Mobile Homes Energy Efficient?

There are many ways of building an energy efficient mobile homes but I'll just discuss 10 ways and here it goes:

1. Save Energy By Changing The Roof Covering - Did you know that a cool roof coating can lower mobile home temperature, reflect up to 85% of the sunlight, reduce smog and save your electric bill by cutting down unnecessary Air-Conditioning Costs? Installing a White Roof or Cool Roof Coating on your mobile home reflects the heat from the sun back out helping to cool your home.
2. Add Roof Installation - It takes a little more work, but you can save up to 15% of heating and insulation costs simply by insulating your mobile home or manufactured home roof cavity. Installing a sloped roof allows extra room for insulation in the ceiling of your home.
3. Save Energy In The Kitchen - Did you know that you can speed up cooking and save energy by using lids on pots and pans? Pressure cookers can reduce cooking time even further. Other ways to reduce energy in the kitchen include; defrosting in the fridge in advance instead of using a microwave, not using your full oven for small meals, choosing Energy Star appliances and not overfilling your refrigerator.
4. Using LED Lightbulbs - All homes can benefit from energy efficient lighting. Most homes use 10%-12% of the entire home energy on lighting, making savings that could lower mobile home energy bills.
5. Service The Furnace - Unlike site built homes, mobile home furnaces draw air directly into the furnace  through removable grilles. Cleaning or replacing the furnace filter inside can drastically reduce energy costs and make the furnace more efficient.
6. Make The Windows More Energy Efficient - Simple plastic window coverings can help reduce energy costs and cut out drafts. The disposable plastic covering can be removed for the summer.
7. Cooling From Inside & Outside - Air conditioners not only cool the air, they take out moisture to make the air more comfortable. You can lower AC running costs by lowering the moisture in your mobile home so that your AC unit can run more efficiently.  Moisture comes from two main sources: the ground, and air leakage from Air Conditioning units.
8. Add Insulation Under The Floor - Mobile homes often already have insulation, but they tend to be partially filled which means there is always room for more. It is a good idea to hire an insulation professional and ask for blown fiberglass to reduce the potential corrosion of any metal parts from cellulose insulation.
9. Check The Crawlspace & Ducts - The crawl space underneath your manufactured home is often neglected, but there are energy savings to be had beneath the floor. Adding skirting around the mobile home can prevent excess heat from escaping but make sure you can still access the crawl space. Check the area underneath the furnace for loose ducts or joints and use metal duct tape if possible as traditional gray fabric tape can come loose.
10. Check For Water Leakage & Seepage - The life span of your mobile home can be shortened by problems from water damage and cause greater problems with the home’s efficiency.  Water damage can be from rainwater through the roof as well as through the foundation.  It is important to plan the site for the home and it’s position in regard to water drainage, keeping it away from the skirting and crawl space.

Conclusion

There are different reasons as to why people opt for less traditional forms of home ownership, including prefabricated mobile homes. Prefabricated mobile homes have been a popular alternative to standard builder-created homes for decades. Known more formally as manufactured homes, prefabricated mobile homes bring a high level of comfort and convenience. The downside to a prefabricated mobile home is that it's not considered real property, only personal property.

As for me, I'll surely rent a mobile home for the holiday trip as it's more flexible and convenient. However I would still prefer a permanent property. Nevertheless, I hope this article will shed some light to those who wish to own a mobile homes.

Auf Wiedersehen~