- Plant Prefab has unveiled three models in its new Passive House LivingHomes line starting at $ 586,300.
- The houses have a minimum of three bedrooms and smart home functions with Alexa from Amazon.
- Plant Prefab became so popular in 2020 that the company had to decline.
- Visit Insider’s Business section for more stories.
Plant Prefab, a prefab home builder that grew enormously during the COVID-19 pandemic, has launched the Passive House LivingHomes, a line of three eco-friendly homes for families.
There is a wide variety of prefabricated units on the market right now, from bulletproof concrete tiny homes to smart homes with integrated artificial intelligence programs. Now Plant Prefab is adding new products to the growing list: three prefab homes that follow strict environmentally friendly protocols.
Read more: Developers have no incentive to solve the affordable housing crisis. Here’s what one real estate exec thinks could change that.
In general, prefabricated houses are often considered the solution for creating affordable and durable housing units, and the space has been gaining increasing public interest in recent times.
“Our focus is on building homes that are as sustainable and healthy as possible,” Steve Glenn, founder and CEO of Plant Prefab, told Insider in an interview. “We’ve had more LEED Platinum homes certified than almost any other design firm, far more than most other prefabrication companies.”
What is even a “passive house”?
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
California-based Plant Prefab teamed up with Pennsylvania-based Richard Pedranti Architect on the Passive House LivingHomes project. According to Glenn, the Passive House certification has stricter energy standards than all LEED certifications.
Plant Prefab tries to “combine profit and purpose” and has always been interested in building to passive house standard, Glenn told Insider.
To meet these standards, a unit must be optimized to be energy efficient. To be certified by the Passive House Institute US and Passive House International, the homes require 80% less power for heating and cooling than a typical building and are intended to be “healthier and more comfortable” to live in, says Plant Prefab .
To do this, home builders must implement proper sun orientation, good insulation and ventilation, and “performance” windows and doors.
As a result, the new homes of Plant Prefab all have a fresh air system, efficient boilers, an energy or heat recovery fan, insulation and strong windows and doors.
The houses are also being built using Plant Prefab’s “Plant Building System”, which uses the company’s own panels and modules to create an entire home in a flexible and efficient manner.
“Building in a controlled off-site environment allows us to build more efficiently in terms of time and cost,” said Glenn.
Plant Prefab’s tremendous growth during COVID-19
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
Plant Prefab started the new passive housing project during COVID-19 in 2020. This also coincided with the company’s best year on record, when people moved from bustling cities to quieter areas or to a ‘second home community’.
Earlier during the coronavirus pandemic, Plant Prefab never experienced a period of decline, even when other companies were struggling. Interest was so high throughout the year that Plant Prefab had to reject its activities.
Ultimately, the company’s revenue grew 17% between 2019 and 2020, while its gross margin grew 23%, Glenn said.
Now Plant Prefab wants to expand its factory space.
Take a look at the three Passive House LivingHomes
The public has shown great interest in Plant Prefab’s new passive houses since it was unveiled about two weeks ago, although Glenn predicts the company won’t see many contracts in the coming months because “houses are not impulse purchases.”
Now let’s take a look at the three units.
The RPA LivingHomes 1 and 2 have pitched solar panel roofs, while LivingHome 3 is inspired by California and mid-century homes. All units have Amazon Alexa smart home technology and at least three bedrooms, providing more space than a small family town apartment.
RPA LivingHome 1 covers an area of 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 all in an open space. The first floor also has a laundry room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
RPA LivingHome 1.
Plant Prefab
On the way up, RPA LivingHome 1’s loft space has two bedrooms, a bathroom and an extra room that can be converted into a home office or a playroom for the kids.
In total, the house starts at nearly $ 586,300.
Now continue with the second model. The larger $ 614,400 RPA LivingHome 2 has three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a garage totaling 2,316 square feet.
RPA LivingHome 2.
Plant Prefab
The house comprises a front hall, mud room with laundry room 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 large bathroom and walk-in closet is located upstairs. There is also an extra room for a home gym, an office or an extra closet.
In the hallway of the master bedroom are the two additional sleeping areas and the other full bathroom.
Finally, the largest RPA LivingHome 3 has an area of 3,182 square feet with its four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and a garage. According to Plant Prefab, the unit has a “distinctly California design” and is inspired by homes from the 1940s to 1960s.
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
When you enter, the third model has a foyer and an open kitchen, dining room and living room that opens onto the patio. There is also a home office for all teleworkers who are still at home.
The laundry and powder room, bathroom and two bedrooms are located in the hallway from the living space. The master bedroom with bathroom, walk-in closet and access to the pool is located at the end of the hall for some extra privacy.
RPA LivingHome 3.
Plant Prefab
The house’s garage and spa can be transformed into a larger home office or a home gym with a kitchen, bathroom, sauna and steam room.
Leave the city for more fresh air? You are lucky. The nearly $ 877.00 home has the most outdoor space of all three models with both the pool and some extra space for a fireplace and dining and sitting area.