Design > Prefab: Greenbuild's New Cool

Fifteen years ago, I remember when a prefab home went up in my neighborhood. It came in on flatbeds. Its white vinyl siding looked out of place sandwiched between cheerily painted Victorians, and it made the whole block feel a little shabby. I loathed it.

So when I say there are some absolutely adorable prefab houses springing up, and I want one, you know I mean it. And not only are they adorable: they’re efficient. Really, really efficient. From materials, to the kind of quality control available only from a well-managed factory, to installation, these prefabs save on the energy and manpower usually expended in the construction of a new home even before they start saving the homeowner money in monthly bills.

There are a number of businesses out there making a name for themselves. Michelle Kaufmann Designs is one of the biggest. Her homes are sleek and modern, with eye-catching angles and materials—she styles them “eco-luxe”. Engineered for the North Carolina climate, Innova Homes LLC streamlines the process while still tailoring to a more traditional aesthetic. The Dwell Home is another: clean, modern designs that you would never know were prefab. Also out of North Carolina. Maybe it’s time to relocate.

Closer to home—for this New England dweller, anyhow—is Massachusetts-based PowerHouse, taking modular to a new level. As one of the few companies striving for affordability along with stellar design, PowerHouse provides an ideal starting place for a discussion of modular green building. Affordability brings with it a whole set of issues and complications that high design modular doesn't have to face. The company is spearheaded by two men whose experience with green building as well as with factory processes make them uniquely qualified to talk about this burgeoning industry.

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