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Blu Homes: Faster and greener California-based firm Blu Homes is changing the way people think about prefabricated construction.
of the homes, there is also an option for an extend- ed living area. “Some people still think prefab means double-wide trailers or mobile homes,” says Stephanie Nixon, a visual designer with Blu Homes. “We have to edu- cate people about what prefab is and how it is more sustainable and better constructed than tradition- al homes.” Blu Homes was launched in 2008 by Bill Haney, an environmental and technology entrepreneur, and Maura McCarthy, an analyst and investor in con- sumer goods and tech companies. With founders that are interested in the environment and tech- nology, it’s no wonder the firm uses technology to simplify the production of homes that are energy See BLU HOMES, page 10 “A Blu Home has about half the energy costs of a traditional home with twice the insulation, low flow fixtures, energy efficient appliances, an easy solar installation option, and more.”
By SARA PARKMAN Editor O ne firm in California says that it can build homes in half the time it takes to build con- ventional custom homes. Despite the shorter time- line, the firm isn’t skimping on quality. The homes feature spacious lines, soaring ceilings, and walls of glass that seamlessly connect interiors to the out- doors. The firm is Blu Homes (Vallejo, CA) – the leading provider of premium prefab homes in California. “Prefab” is a broad term that encompasses several different types of building. Technically, any home that has sections of the structure built in a factory and then assembled onsite can fall under the pre- fab designation. Just because the homes are par- tially built in a factory doesn’t mean that they are any less personalized or customizable than a cus- tom home. Though there are only six different homes to choose from at the moment – ranging in size from 633 square feet to 3,655 square feet – all are fully customizable. The firm utilizes online 3-D tools to enable customers to easily design their homes. Cli- ents can choose everything from fixtures to finish- es, and can even add on a garage or a deck. In some
THE ZWEIG LETTER DECEMBER 14, 2015, ISSUE 1131
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