(BPT) - The demand for homes with sustainable features is growing. However, home building companies that are committed to sustainability recognize that how you build a home is just as important as the home itself. Below are three ways that Clayton, a leading national builder of single-family attainable housing, is investing in practices that promote sustainability in their operations.
1. Reducing emissions
According to the Rocky Mountain Institute®, new home constructions in the U.S. create over 50 million tons of carbon emissions each year. That's why it's important for home builders to find ways to reduce or offset their emissions.
To reduce emissions in its operations, Clayton is working to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The home builder is working toward this goal by transitioning to a hybrid fleet of light-duty pickups for transportation and using electric forklifts and other equipment in its operations.
Clayton is also continuing to increase its reliance on renewable energy. In December 2019, Clayton Sulphur Springs, a home building facility, installed its first solar carport system (200 kW). This installation allowed the site to offset 30-40% of its electricity usage with renewable energy. Starting this year, Clayton has initiated four new solar projects for systems to be installed at home building facilities in East Tennessee, Arizona and at Clayton's home office.
3. Reducing waste
Because of all the materials needed to build a home, it's important that homebuilders focus on identifying ways to reduce waste in their operations. Through careful planning, they can prevent tons of waste from ending up in landfills.
There are a few different ways builders can decrease waste in their operations. For example, Clayton collaborates with its suppliers to reduce inbound building material packaging and waste. As raw building materials are used Clayton uses material reuse programs on the production line to repurpose building supplies for other parts of the home building process.
Continuous improvement
Environmental responsibility in home building goes beyond the design of the home. It's also about how homes are built. Clayton is an example of a builder who's driving change through renewable energy usage, focusing on reducing operating emissions and finding ways to enhance waste reduction. To learn more, visit claytonhomes.com/sustainability/
