Mobile homes house 22 million people in the U.S. and investing in them could be a solution to the housing and climate crises

Excerpt:

Newer models can also be a low-carbon solution as these prefabricated homes, which are built in large pieces for easy assembly, can include things like heat pumps and solar panels, in contrast to older models that relied on propane or natural gas. Older models can also be eligible for retrofits to make them more energy efficient and climate-friendly.

“They’re a pretty terrific solution,” said Rumbach. “Unfortunately, by law, in many places in the country [mobile homes] are not allowed to be placed anymore because there is such a cultural stigma.”

    • Jaysyn@kbin.social
      13·
      1 year ago

      Unless something has drastically changed recently, they literally use building scrap to make mobile homes.

      I’ve worked on several of them, all of the construction is sub-par. Interior wall lumber is often shorter pieces, scabbed together.

    • Five@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      Interestingly, John Oliver said nothing about construction standards, though I’d be surprised if it’s not as huge an issue for mobile homes as it is for other recently constructed homes. The primary problem seems to be people not owning the land beneath their homes.

      Obligatory fuck Frank Rolfe and the The Carlyle Group.

      • RickRussell_CA@beehaw.orgEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        Admittedly I was working from memory, I could swear that his piece had at least a short discussion of the low quality materials and workmanship of mobile homes.