Clayton e-Built™ Homes
In July 2023, Clayton parent company of Schult Redwood Falls, launched its most ambitious energy efficiency program to date; the e-Built™ home. “Our purpose at Clayton is opening doors to a better life through attainable home ownership,” says Donie Wood, Clayton’s Chief Customer officer. Nearly everyone has been impacted by quickly increasing energy costs, burdening homeowners with what Clayton refers to as a “hidden mortgage” - utility costs that over time can add up to as much or more than the initial cost of the home. The e-Built™ home represents Clayton’s commitment to helping their customers not just be able to afford the purchase of their home, but save dramatically on the costs of owning it as well.
An Exceptionally Energy Efficient Home
Built to the US Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home™ manufactured home standards, Clayton’s e-Built™ homes can save homeowners between 40-50% annually on their utility bills compared to a traditional manufactured home. The best news: thanks to tax incentives offsetting construction costs, Clayton is able to offer the outstanding features of this high performing home to customers at no additional cost over its traditional manufactured home lines in most areas. “What’s exciting for our customers is we’re taking one of the most energy efficient homes on the market and making it even more energy efficient," says Tom Erie, General Manager of Liechty Homes. Citing the superior insulation of the e-Built™ home, he says, “Even people who have owned one of our homes for 20 years rave about how easy they are to heat. These homes take it to the next level to alleviate some of the increases in energy costs that we’ve seen around the country.”
Energy Efficiency in Every Corner
Here are just a few features that help to make the e-Built™ home energy efficient:
Rheem® hybrid water heater
SmartComfort® by Carrier High efficiency HVAC heat pump
Ecobee® Smart Thermostat
Frigidaire® ENERGY STAR® dishwasher and refrigerator
Low-E windows with Argon gas
Insulated exterior doors
LED lighting
These features offer homeowners both energy savings and convenience. The Rheem® hybrid water heater uses less energy annually than just one 100W incandescent bulb and can be adjusted from anywhere using the Rheem app. The ecobee® smart thermostat can also be controlled by a smartphone from anywhere. Never worry about forgetting to turn down the heat for vacation again!
One more incredible feature of the e-Built™ home, is that it’s constructed to accommodate a renewable solar energy system to power the home (added by the customer after purchase) meaning any e-Built™ home can become a net zero home. This could potentially save up to 100% of yearly energy use by generating the power it consumes.
“The Right Thing to Do”
As the first single-family off-site builder to offer energy efficient homes, Clayton is not only offering its customer energy efficiency at an attainable price point, they are demonstrating their commitment to sustainable building practices that lower the company’s carbon footprint. “Building energy efficient homes is the right thing to do for our homeowners, the environment, and our industry, giving us an opportunity to be more relevant in single family housing,” says Donie Wood, Clayton’s Chief Customer Officer.
Schult Redwood Falls Factory
Photo of manufactured home being built on the production line at Schult Homes in Redwood Falls Minnesota.
Find Your e-Built Home™
Cory Cellmer, Sales Manager at Schult Redwood Falls, notes that all HUD homes coming from their facility are now e-Built™, which means that they can be now purchased from any Liechty Homes location. Please contact us or visit the sales center nearest to you to tour our homes and learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions: Clayton e-Built Home Efficiency
Q: What is the main benefit of an e-Built manufactured home for buyers in the Midwest climate?
A: The main benefit is the potential for significant savings on utility bills, which can be up to 50% lower than a standard manufactured home. This is achieved because e-Built homes meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home specifications. The enhanced insulation, sealed ductwork, and energy-saving components like SmartComfort® heat pumps dramatically reduce heating and cooling loss in the cold North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota climate.
Q: What specific technology upgrades in an e-Built home contribute to its high energy efficiency?
A: e-Built homes include a suite of high-performance features that maximize efficiency. These typically include a Rheem® hybrid water heater (which uses minimal energy), Low-E windows with argon gas (reducing heat transfer), SmartComfort® by Carrier HVAC systems, and an ecobee® smart thermostat. These features create a tight thermal envelope that reduces your home's total cost of ownership.
Q: Is an e-Built home built for a renewable energy system like solar panels?
A: Yes. A key feature of the e-Built design is that it is solar-ready, meaning the necessary conduit and wiring allowances are included during factory construction. This makes it easier and more cost-effective for homeowners to add a renewable solar energy system after installation, which could potentially transform the home into a net zero home by offsetting all or most of the annual energy consumption.
Q: Can I use an FHA or Conventional loan to purchase an energy-efficient e-Built home and land?
A: Absolutely. Since e-Built homes are high-quality, modern manufactured or modular homes, they are eligible for the full range of traditional financing. When secured to your owned land with a permanent foundation, the home is classified as real property, allowing you to finance the combined purchase with a Conventional, FHA, or VA Land-Home Package. The energy efficiency itself is a factor that makes these homes appealing to lenders.
I found a video demonstrating the energy-efficient features of the home line discussed. eBuilt® Home Tour highlights the features that contribute to the home's high energy savings.
