Your guide to an efficient new manufactured home

There are many standards that new manufactured home retailers may use during construction, so how do you know which home will cost the least to operate? Look for EPS™.

EPS, brought to you by Energy Trust of Oregon, is an energy performance score that rates the efficiency of a new manufactured home and measures it against homes built to code. Scores can range from zero to over 200; the lower the score, the more efficient the home. From assessing monthly utility costs to providing an estimated carbon emission score, EPS helps you make informed decisions when comparing new manufactured homes.

To see how EPS works, take a look at our sample EPS sheet. For more information, see our frequently asked questions.

EPS works with manufactured home certifications

An EPS provides a way to compare the energy cost and performance of different manufactured homes and models. An EPS can be used in conjunction with eco-rated and ENERGY STAR® manufactured homes to demonstrate the superior performance of homes with these certifications. Learn about the different certifications to make shopping easier.

Look for these features in manufactured homes with low scores

Improved Insulation

Explanation: Insulation is given an “R-Value” rating that reflects its resistance to heat flow. The greater the number, the better the insulating quality.

Benefit: Properly installed floor, ceiling and wall insulation can help keep heat inside during winter and out during summer.

Recommendation: ENERGY STAR homes have an R-value of at least R-40 for ceilings, R-21 for walls and R-33 for floors.

Check the EPS sheet: Look for the R-Value on the backside of the EPS sheet to find the home’s level of insulation.

Efficient Windows

Explanation: The rate of heat loss in windows is indicated by the U-Value. The lower the U-Value, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow.

Benefit: Lower U-Value windows result in a more comfortable home and greater energy efficiency.

Recommendation: ENERGY STAR homes have windows with a value of at least U-0.35.

Check the EPS sheet: Look for the U-Value on the backside of the EPS sheet to find the home’s window U-Value.

Tighter Construction

Explanation: Tight construction focuses on preventing air from entering and leaving the home in an uncontrolled manner. Building tighter homes helps ensure that unwanted pollutants don’t enter the home and heated/cooled air doesn’t leak out.

Benefit: When a home is built tightly to control air leakage, and features properly installed insulation, its energy use can be reduced by as much as 20 percent. This tighter construction also enables the home to maintain consistent temperatures throughout, and works to lessen humidity, indoor air pollutants and noise.

Requirement: ENERGY STAR homes must meet standards for the tightness of the home. Typically, a newly built ENERGY STAR home has an average natural air leakage of 0.25 ACH.

Check the EPS sheet: Look for the ACH on the backside of the EPS sheet to find the home’s air tightness result.

Properly Sealed Ducts

Explanation: When ducts are sealed tightly it ensures that heated/cooled air makes it into the rooms in your home.

Benefit: Properly sealed ductwork reduces the potential for heat loss from ducts leaking into unconditioned areas. It also helps reduce allergens and potential moisture problems caused by ductwork that has air leaks.

Requirement: ENERGY STAR homes lose less energy through duct leakage. For even greater savings, consider upgrading to a home with a ductless heat pump.

Check the EPS sheet: Compare an ENERGY STAR home with a ducted system to an ENERGY STAR home with a ductless heat pump to understand the energy and money savings opportunities.

Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

Benefit: Heating and cooling equipment is the largest energy user in the home. Energy-efficient furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners and other equipment can lower energy bills, enhance comfort and improve indoor air quality.

Requirement: ENERGY STAR homes can include a high-efficiency furnace, a ducted heat pump, or a ductless heat pump

Check the EPS sheet: Compare an ENERGY STAR home with a ducted system to an ENERGY STAR home with a ductless heat pump to understand the energy and money savings opportunities.

Water Heating

Benefit: ENERGY STAR® qualified water heaters can save up to 30 percent on a home’s water heating costs and still ensure comfort. Water heater efficiency is measured by energy factor, EF. The higher the EF the more energy efficient the model.

Requirement: ENERGY STAR homes include a high-efficiency water heater with an EF of .93.

Check the EPS sheet: Look for the EF on the backside of the EPS sheet to find the home’s water heater efficiency.

Efficient Appliances and Lighting

Benefit: ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances use up to 25 percent less energy than standard models. CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, while LEDs use up to 85 percent less energy.

Requirement: ENERGY STAR homes include high-efficiency light fixtures in most locations.

Check the EPS sheet: Look on the backside of the EPS sheet to find the home’s lighting efficiency.