How To Make Your Mobile Home More Energy-efficient
Just like traditional houses, mobile homes often referred to as manufactured homes, can be improved to make them more energy-efficient. As the owner of a mobile home, you could be paying more on your energy bills than you need to. By implementing a few simple energy-saving measures, you can be on your way to saving energy and money in no time! Some measures you can do yourself, others require the skills of trained weatherization professionals, and both types are well worth the effort.
ARE MOBILE HOMES ENERGY-EFFICIENT?
The answer is, it depends! Newer manufactured homes are designed to be more energy efficient from day one. If you live in an older manufactured home, you can make various upgrades and improvements to ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible.
WHY SHOULD YOU MAKE YOUR MOBILE HOME MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT?
As we’ve briefly discussed above, there are significant benefits to making your mobile home more energy-efficient. Some of the most noteworthy benefits are as follows:
- Lower energy and homeownership costs
- Improved comfort: fewer drafts, more comfortable temperatures, less temperature fluctuation floor-to-ceiling and from room to room, and less chance of moisture problems
- Resale value: a home with lower operating costs can be worth more
LOW-COST ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES
- Seal all leaky ducts, windows, and doors
- Have a professional tune-up of your furnace and air conditioner
- Insulate your water heater tank and the pipes leading from the tank
- Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators
ENERGY-EFFICIENCY MEASURES FOR BIG ENERGY SAVINGS
- Inspect and repair ducts from under the home
- Install interior storm windows or replace single-pane windows with double-pane insulated windows.
- Add insulation to the roof, floor, and sidewalls
- Install a reflective roof coating
IMPORTANCE OF PROPER VENTILATION BEFORE MOBILE HOME WEATHERIZATION
Before weatherizing your manufactured home, it is important to be sure all combustion appliances such as furnaces, stoves, and water heaters are in good working order and are properly vented. Failure to do so could lead to the accumulation of dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide in your home. You may want to consult with a professional before taking on a major weatherization job.
CAN I MAKE MY MOBILE HOME MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT?
At this point, you might be wondering whether or not your mobile home can be made more energy-efficient? Here are a few criteria to help you determine whether your mobile home could use some energy efficiency upgrades.
- Your home was built before 1994 (and especially before 1976) and hasn’t been significantly improved or upgraded.
- Your heating, cooling or water heating equipment breaks down a lot.
- You feel drafts inside on windy days.
- The air near the floor is significantly cooler than the air near the ceiling.
- You have to wait a long time for hot water, and water cools off quickly between uses.
- You have to set the thermostat below 70° to stay cool in the summer.
- You have trouble keeping your home warm in winter or cool in summer.
