Epoch Homes first in the nation approved for the NAHB’s green modular home factory certification

Dec. 10, 2008 - PRLog -- Epoch Homes (www.EpochHomes.com) continues to lead the industry, building award winning, fully custom designed Green modular buildings for residential and light commercial markets across the Northeast. After working with the NAHB Research Center on a Pilot Program to develop a robust process for verification of Green Building in a controlled factory environment, Epoch became the first plant to be approved under the new program, now available to the modular home industry.

“This is a very important step for the industry as more and more builders rely on systems-built construction methods,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn, a home builder in Point Pleasant, W. Va. “Modular construction helps builders reduce their overhead and go green with ease by assembling a significant portion of the home in the factory.”

This is not the only “first” for Epoch Homes. Epoch built the first Platinum LEED certified modular home east of the Rockies two years ago. Epoch recently completed the first NAHB Gold certified house under the Build Green New Hampshire program. Epoch has built multiple other Platinum LEED certified homes. Currently, they are building green dormitories for Montserrat Art School in Beverly, Ma, and green classrooms for Yellow Barn Music School in Vermont. While new to many companies, Epoch has been building green for over a decade. Epoch worked in concert with the US Department of Energy and the Green Village Company in 1999 on the Cambridge Co-Housing project. This innovative development wonn the NAHB Research Center’s “Value Housing Award” for the use of solar design, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and green building materials where ever possible.

“Green building systems and components are a growing design consideration in the custom homes sought by discerning buyers. We have long believed that it is important that our company remain ahead of customer demand with advanced design and product options, while positioning ourselves to provide guidance as consumers sort through the rapidly expanding choices available today. Having previously taken an early lead in building numerous Green homes that were field certified, we welcomed the opportunity to work with the NAHB Research Center to create a program to streamline the process with plant verification,” said John D. Ela, CEO of Epoch Homes based in Pembroke, NH.

Research Center President Mike Luzier said thanks are due to the modular home manufacturers who piloted the certification process in preparation for the BSC’s SHOWCASE event in Memphis last week, where members eagerly awaited news of the new program. “This shows not only their commitment to quality, but also their dedication to serving the growing list of consumers who are moving towards purchasing green homes,” he said. Epoch was one of four factories chosen to participate in the pilot program.

Because they are factory-built, modular homes can take advantage of resource efficiencies that make them less expensive to produce – and that involves less waste, it’s green as well as more affordable, Dunn said.

While a modular or systems-built home is built to the same codes as a traditional, site-built home, the inspector can’t see behind the walls when it arrives at the building site, making the verification process more difficult. By ensuring that the house and its components meet green requirements in the factory through this new program, the rest of the inspection can be conducted onsite.

In 2008, Epoch Homes celebrates its 25th year of innovation and providing quality homes to discerning home owners.

For more information on Green Building, to visit our online Design Center, and to see hundreds of Epoch Homes, please visit our web site at www.EpochHomes.com.


For more information contact:
John D. Ela
President & CEO
Epoch Corporation
Route 106
P. O. Box 235
Pembroke, NH  03275
JohnEla@EpochHomes.com
www.epochhomes.com

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Epoch Corporation is the leading manufacturer of high quality, fully custom designed modular homes, cottages and mansions. The award winning designs are sold through a network of independent builders located in upscale markets across the Northeast US