- Plant Prefab introduced three models in its new Passive House LivingHomes range, starting at $ 586,300.
- The homes have at least three bedrooms and smart home features that Amazon’s Alexa uses.
- Plant Prefab became so popular in 2020 that it had to turn things around.
- Visit the Insider Business Department for more stories.
Plant Prefab, a manufacturer of prefab houses that experienced massive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, has launched the Passive House LivingHomes, a range of three eco-friendly homes for families.
There is currently a wide range of prefabricated units available on the market, from small bulletproof concrete houses to smart houses with integrated artificial intelligence programs. Now Plant Prefab is adding new products to the growing list: three prefabricated homes that follow strictly environmentally friendly protocols.
Read more: Developers have no incentive to fix the affordable housing crisis. Here’s what a broker thinks can change that.
In general, prefab houses are often seen as the solution to creating affordable and sustainable housing units, and the public has recently seen a growing interest from the public.
“Our focus is on building homes that are as sustainable and healthy as possible,” Steve Glenn, founder and CEO of Plant Prefab, said in an interview with Insider. “We have had more LEED Platinum homes certified than almost any other design firm, far more than most other manufacturers.”
What is even a “passive house”?
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
Plant Prefab, based in California, has teamed up with Richard Pedranti architect in Pennsylvania for the Passive House LivingHomes project. According to Glenn, the Passive House certification has stricter energy standards than any LEED certification.
Plant Prefab tries to bet ‘profit and purpose’, and has always been interested in building according to the passive house standard, Glenn told Insider.
Meeting these standards involves optimizing a unit to be energy efficient. To be certified by the Passive House Institute US and Passive House International, the houses must use 80% less power for heating and cooling than a typical building, and are, according to Plant Prefab, ‘healthier and more comfortable’ to use.
To do this, homeowners need to implement proper solar orientation, good insulation and ventilation, and windows and doors with ‘performance’.
As a result, Plant Prefab’s new homes all have a fresh air system, efficient water heaters, a fan for energy or heat recovery, insulation and strong windows and doors.
The houses are also built using Plant Prefab’s ‘Plant Building System’, which uses the company’s own panels and modules to create an entire house in a flexible and efficient way.
“By building in a controlled environment outside the building, we can build more efficiently in terms of time and cost,” Glenn said.
Plant Prefab’s tremendous growth during COVID-19
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
Plant Prefab started the new passive housing project in 2020 during COVID-19. It also coincided with the best year of the company recorded when people moved from the bustling cities to quieter areas or to a ‘second home community’.
Earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, Plant Prefab never saw a downturn, even when other companies began to struggle. The interest was so high throughout the year that Plant Prefab had to start removing business.
Eventually, the company’s revenue increased by 17% from 2019 to 2020, while its gross margin increased by 23% according to Glenn.
Plant Prefab now wants to expand its factory space.
View the three Passive House LivingHomes
The public has shown strong interest in the new passive houses from Plant Prefab since the unveiling about two weeks ago, although Glenn predicts that the company will not see many contracts in the coming months because ‘houses do not buy an impulse’.
Let’s now look at the three units.
The RPA LivingHomes 1 and 2 have roofs for solar panels, while LivingHome 3 was inspired by homes from California and the mid-century. All units feature Amazon Alexa smart home technology and at least three bedrooms, offering more space than a small apartment for a family.
RPA LivingHome 1 is on 2,218 square feet with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and an optional two-car garage.
RPA LivingHome 1.
Plant Prefab
Like many modern homes, the kitchen, dining room and living room are in an open space. The first floor also has a laundry room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
RPA LivingHome 1.
Plant Prefab
In the foreground, the loft space of RPA LivingHome 1 has two bedrooms, a bathroom and an extra room that can be converted into a home office or a children’s playroom.
In total, the home starts at nearly $ 586,300.
Now move on to the second model. The larger RPA LivingHome 2 of $ 614,400 has three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a garage with a total of 2,316 square feet.
RPA LivingHome 2.
Plant Prefab
The house has a foyer, mud room with laundry and an open kitchen and dining room. Beyond the kitchen and stairs is the living room of RPA LivingHome 2, which then makes way for both the patio and a home office.
RPA LivingHome 2.
Plant Prefab
The master bedroom with a master bathroom and walk-in closet is upstairs. There is also an extra room for a home gym, an office or an additional closet.
In the hallway from the master bedroom are the two extra beds and the other full bathroom.
Finally, the largest RPA LivingHome 3 sits on 3,182 square feet with its four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and a garage. According to Plant Prefab, the unit has a ‘distinct California design’ and was inspired by homes from the 1940s to 1960s.
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
The third model has a foyer and an open-plan kitchen, dining room and lounge that leads onto the patio. There is also a home office for all the workers who are still at home.
The laundry and powder room, bathroom and two bedrooms are in the hallway off the living space. The master bedroom with a bathroom, a walk-in closet and access to the pool is at the end of the hallway for extra privacy.
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
The house’s garage and spa can be converted into a larger home office or a home gym with a kitchen, bathroom, sauna and steam room.
Are you moving away from the city for more fresh air? You are lucky. The nearly $ 877.00 home has the most outdoor space of all three models, with its pool and extra space for a fireplace and a dining and seating area.