Save Money And Improve Comfort In Manufactured Homes

New guide provides simple steps to improve energy efficiency

WASHINGTON - "Manufactured Homes: Saving Money by Saving Energy," a free guide published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), outlines easy and inexpensive ways to improve the energy efficiency of manufactured homes.

Many homeowners suffer from high utility bills, which could be slashed with a few simple steps. This rings true for those who live in manufactured (mobile) homes, especially if the structures are more than five years old and feel drafty.

The HUD guide helps mobile home owners choose the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy use by explaining how to tackle big and small projects. These projects can also can improve comfort levels, raise the home's resale value, protect the environment, and reduce the demand for foreign oil.

Examples of the recommendations include:

Cleaning or replacing the filters on the furnace and air conditioner. Replacing the filter on the air conditioner may reduce cooling bills by 5 to15 percent.
Air sealing the supply duct connectors to the boots and registers, and sealing the duct ends, which can lower heating and cooling bills by up to 10 percent.
Sealing leaky ceilings, walls, and floors.
Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, especially in high use areas. Replacing just one light bulb can save $50 over the lifetime of the bulb.
Insulating the water heater tank and the pipes leading from the tank.
Lowering the temperature on the water heater thermostat.
The guide explains how to determine if a recommendation is appropriate for a particular home. It lists approximate costs, the skill level necessary to perform the recommendation, and gives step-by-step instructions for the improvements that the homeowner can do.

"Manufactured Homes: Saving Money by Saving Energy," outlines simple strategies that homeowners or renters can implement today to lower their energy bills. Copies of the guide are available as a free download on the HUDUSER website or in printed form for a nominal charge by calling 1 (800) 245-2691.