The statistics are not wonderful: heating and cooling an older, pre-1976 mobile home can cost twice as much as a site-built home of a comparable size and age. Energy efficiency of manufactured homes has improved over the years, but the minimum standards set by HUD are still less than those for site-built homes. An analysis by the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) in 2010 determined that the average mobile home owner spends approximately 50% more for energy per year than a comparable site-built home ($1.76 vs. $1.17 per sq. ft.)
There are three eras that determine the level of energy efficiency of a mobile home:
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1)Before July, 1976 - There were no national standards for mobile home construction. Insulation and weather-sealing of the exterior of the home varied widely, and was often poor.
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2)July, 1976, to October, 1994 - The “Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1976,” which created the “HUD Code” as a nationwide standard for manufactured homes went into effect in July, 1976. While standards for weatherization and insulation were nothing to rave about, it was a big improvement. Also, the requirement for review of the design of a manufactured home and factory inspection by independent inspectors meant that the new requirements had to be met.
