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·
      10 months 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.

    • FiveOPAEnglish
      6·
      10 months 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·
        10 months 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.

  • usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca
    12·
    10 months ago

    They tend to be built so poorly and have a shorter lifespan than a house… Do we really need disposable housing on top of all the other stuff we make just to throw away? Harder to get a mortgage on them too (at least where I am)

  • flatbield@beehaw.orgEnglish
    8·
    10 months ago

    Frankly, the best climate solution is a multifamily dwelling with minimized external exposure and minimized grounds that actually require much special care. Large buildings you generally only need to cool and cycle fresh air, not heat. So any single family home is by definition resource intensive.

  • shortwavesurfer@monero.townEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    They are death traps in a tornado or hurricane. You think a mobile home owner is going to have easy access to, or install a $5k tornado shelter? Yeah, no.

  • Throwaway@lemm.ee
    1·
    10 months ago

    Because they’re almost always made very cheaply, basically a tin can, and only those who have to get them.