Vermod’s Zero-Energy, Affordable Modular Home wins Best of the Best Award
Vermont Business Magazine Vermod, a zero-energy, modular and affordable home builder based in Wilder, Vermont won the Best of the Best Innovation Award at Efficiency Vermont’s Better Building by Design Conference Thursday.
Vermod was bestowed the 2020 Best of the Best Innovation Award for a 700-square foot home in White River Junction. The two-bedroom home features an innovative two-box “T” configuration.
The home includes all Vermod’s standard high-performance features including LED lighting, triple paned windows, and energy efficient appliances and heat pump technology. With these construction methods this very small home takes very little energy for heating and cooling making it affordable for the long-term.
“We are thrilled and honored to win the Best of the Best Innovation Award,” said Kristen Connors, General Manager of Vermod. “We are so proud of our team for not letting building site challenges stand in the way and for meeting the overall mission of our company: building another high quality, affordable, and zero-energy modular home for a Vermonter.
Due to restrictions of the building site we worked with the homeowner to create a small, uniquely shaped home that could operate on very minimal energy consumption with limited solar access. With innovation, partnership and determination we successfully managed to build a home without disrupting existing drainage and grade, allowed for a roof design that placed solar in the most optimal position and kept costs low for a tight, affordable housing budget.”
In addition to the energy benefits, the home also enjoys ideal access to public transportation, amenities, and community spaces, and was built with an innovative landscape and house design on a small budget. The home is designed for aging in place and the landscape design has led to the property becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
“This home has a special ingredient: it came about because people collaborated to make it happen,” said homeowner Judith Engle. Vermod worked with commitment and skill, kindness and caring with the Twin Pines Housing Trust and USDA. They communicated with each other seamlessly to solve problems and address obstacles. Far above and beyond any normal job description.”
Vermod designs and builds affordable zero energy modular homes to meet the highest standards of durability, energy efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality. Following Tropical Storm Irene which disproportionately affected mobile home residents, the High Meadows Fund, VHCB and Efficiency Vermont formed the Modular Housing Innovation Project. Vermod was born out of this effort.
Today, Vermod has set over 100 zero-energy modular homes around the state and employs 20 Upper Valley residents. Partnering with Efficiency Vermont’s Zero Energy Modular (ZEM) Program, Vermod continues to provide affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Vermonters with a special focus on replacing mobile/manufactured homes with ZEM.
Better Buildings by Design is the region’s premier design and construction conference, which features interactive learning about building durability, efficiency, and value for both residential and commercial projects.
This annual not-for-profit conference sponsored by Efficiency Vermont brings together top talent in building technology and design from across the country, and helps keep Vermont-area professionals at the forefront of their fields.
Source:
vermontbiz.com / South Burlington, VT / February 2020