If you live in a manufactured home, you may have a higher energy bill than a family living in a modular or traditional wood-frame home. The good news is there are many ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Install insulated skirting

Adding a skirt around the bottom perimeter of your manufactured home will not only add to its aesthetic, but will make it more energy efficient too. Skirting can help maintain the average temperature underneath the home and prevent higher heating and cooling costs due to extreme temperatures.

Vinyl skirting is the most popular option because it’s easy to install and budget-friendly. However, you could purchase skirting made of faux rock, brick, metal, rigid foam, cinder block and more.  

Replace inefficient windows

Swapping out old windows for efficient Energy Star windows could cut your energy costs by 12 percent. According to Energy Star, you’d save $101 to $583 per year by replacing single pane windows. If you have double pane windows in your manufactured home, you would save an estimated $27 to $197 per year by switching to Energy Star certified windows.

Add insulation to your roof

Insulation acts as a barrier between the temperature outside and the temperature inside your manufactured home. So adding an extra layer of insulation can go a long way in keeping your heating and cooling costs down.

There are three common methods of adding insulation to your existing roof cavity: drilling and tube blowing from the interior; drilling and tube blowing from the exterior; and rolling back the roof to blow insulation into the fully open cavity.

Because the process of adding insulation to a manufactured home can be difficult, some choose to install roof caps instead. They often come in kits, which include insulation boards with a metal or synthetic rubber covering.  The insulating performance of a roof cap isn’t as good as blown-in insulation, but they can be installed without disturbing the existing roof.

Caulk and weatherstrip

Any home can benefit from sealing up air leaks. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average home has enough air leaks to add up to a 2-foot square hole—that’s like leaving a window open 24-hours a day. Make sure you seal around windows, doors, ducts and plumbing fixtures.

Install efficient lighting

Replace old incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. These energy-saving bulbs will last 25 years longer and use 75 percent less energy.

Outsmart your technology

As our world continues to advance, we’re seeing a shift in how we use energy. Many homes today see a large portion of their energy dollars going toward electronics and appliances. Fortunately, it’s easy to save energy on these devices. Make sure you unplug unused electronics to reduce “phantom” loads. (Many electronics continue to use power when they are off, but still plugged in.)

Whenever you replace a gadget or appliance, shop for Energy Star certified models, which are the most energy-efficient options on the market. A growing number of devices now meet Energy Star standards, so you’ll find the blue logo on everything from TVs and computers to refrigerators and dishwashers.

Planning to purchase a manufactured home?

If you’re thinking about buying a manufactured home, we encourage you to look for an Energy Star qualified model. These homes are certified to meet the government’s guidelines for energy efficiency and are independently verified by a third-party.

With an Energy Star manufactured home, you could expect features such as insulation that exceeds national code requirements, high performance windows, efficient heating and cooling equipment, and Energy Star certified appliances.