Examining Modular Housing as an Affordable Housing Solution

Overview and Background 

The U.S. construction industry contributes significantly to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2016, the U.S. construction industry contributed approximately $600 billion to the U.S. GDP (Defoe, 2016). Despite this, this industry ranks behind other industries in terms of productivity gains and operations efficiency. With the construction industry contributing significantly to the U.S. GDP, the lack of progress in productivity and innovation via the adoption of technology, operations innovation, and prefabrication is troublesome (Defoe, 2016). Nevertheless, the re-emergence of modularization is influencing design and construction processes. Modularization is a construction process where buildings are manufactured in off-site manufacturing locations, transported to the site, and installed in the designated configuration. This construction process has been around for centuries. 

The modular housing construction industry is not considered a financially viable option. This is despite research and professional reports documenting that modular buildings are efficient, greener, and economical compared to stick-built approach. This study will delve into examining the way modular housing can provide affordable housing opportunities as well as contribute to sustainable development in the United States. 

Sources 

A comprehensive search strategy was employed for the following database: Google Scholar. The mainstream Google browser was primarily used to search for the sources used in this study. Keywords were employed when searching for sources to obtain valid and reliable sources. The keywords that were used modular housing and affordable housing. Besides, the search was restricted to literature developed between 2013 and 2020. Literature that precedes 2013 was ignored. Other than the journals and articles in the aforementioned database, academic books and organizational publications were used in this study. To ensure the sources used are reliable, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist was employed. The CASP is a tool that tests the validity of a study, the results, and the potential to adopt the result in the current research. This tool helped obtained reliable sources and eliminated biased ones. When conducting the literature search, no problems were developed with my findings, and therefore my research topic was not modified. 

Assessment 

Affordable Housing 

The affordability of houses has plummeted U.S. markets. In the United States, developers have shunned affordable housing for a number of factors, including insufficient returns and complex financing processes. According to Thompson (2019), there is no apparent solution to this crisis and therefore, is needed for the U.S. government to intervene to house the U.S. citizens that are at risk. But research and professional reports indicate that innovations in design and production methods in modular constructions can improve the efficiency of modular housing as well as make them greener and affordable (Thompson, 2019). Recent improvements in the construction of modular buildings have the potential to make housing not only affordable but also efficient and greener. According to a survey done by McGraw Hill Construction (MHC) (2011), 65 percent of the respondents stated that modular reduce project costs. This, in turn, makes housing more affordable. 

Sustainable Urban Development 

The construction industry dominates material consumption as the majority of resource materials end up in the built environment. More to this is that construction activity contributes to a very small fraction of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Defoe, 2016). Thus, the material impacts of construction outweigh the benefits, and this issue ought to be addressed. One way to address this issue is to adopt green building or sustainable construction. This is where modular housing comes in. Research studies indicate that modular housing is more efficient, greener, and affordable. 

Modular Housing 

Modular housing is regarded as a cheap solution to housing shortages. When considering issues related to efficiency, affordability, and environmental impacts, modular housing offers a solution that may lessen not only the overall impact of man-made dwellings but also improve the efficiency and affordability of housing. The increased interest and growth in environmentally friendly buildings are increasing the adoption of modular houses. According to the study conducted by MHC (2011), modular housing is influencing an increase in green building techniques. Conclusively, modular housing not only provides affordable housing opportunities but also contribute to sustainable development. 

References 

Defoe, B. (2016).  Prefabricated and Modularized Building as an Affordable Housing Solution for Millennials: A Case Study  (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida). 

McGraw Hill Construction (MHC). (2011). Prefabrication and modularization: Increasing productivity in the construction industry. Smart Market, McGraw Hill Construction. 

Thompson, J. (2019). Modular Construction: A Solution to Affordable Housing Challenges.  Cornell Real Estate Review ,  17 (1), 21.