Accessory dwelling units have grown in popularity, but the environmental impact of these small structures hasn’t gotten much attention. That soon could change.
July 5, 2022, | by Melissa Dittmann Tracey
Accessory dwelling units have been touted for providing affordable housing solutions while also helping to alleviate inventory shortages. But their contributions to sustainability haven’t gotten as much attention. That may soon change.
An ADU is an additional housing unit built onto an existing property, whether as a standalone structure or an attachment to, say, a converted garage. ADUs typically average around 400 square feet but could be larger. About 100,000 ADUs are being built every year, according to a 2021 analysis by Porch.com, a home improvement website. Properties with an ADU are in demand: In the largest metros, homes with ADUs are priced an average 35% higher than homes without one, the study shows.
As multigenerational households grows, ADUs are expected to continue to increase in demand. Eighteen percent of buyers between the ages of 41 to 65, many of whom fall within the Generation X age segment, purchased a multigenerational home during the past year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2022 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report. Further, homeowners may consider ADUs for rental opportunities and a possible income stream.
One company thrusting the eco-friendly side of ADUs into the spotlight is Spacial. The San Francisco-based company teams with a modular manufacturing firm to create customizable, energy efficient ADUs. Spacial CEO and national ADU expert Cory Halbardier recently caught up with REALTOR® Magazine to address the widening connection between ADUs and sustainability.
Q: How do ADUs achieve sustainability?
A: ADUs create something called “urban infill,” meaning they create more housing in neighborhoods with single-family homes instead of sprawling further away from jobs. This sprawling means that people would need to drive further to work each day, putting more pollutants into the air. ADUs, in themselves, are an eco-friendly response to the need for more housing without changing the character of neighborhoods like three-story multifamily housing would do. Spacial, in particular, has designed an ADU that is environmentally friendly both in its construction—with the use of mass timber instead of concrete and steel—and in its ultra-low energy usage. Spacial ADUs meet most elements of Passive Home’s design standards and include energy-efficient appliances, LED lights, dual pane windows, and a solar photovoltaic rooftop system.
Are the ADUs all built off-site? What is the construction process like? What are the price ranges of a Spacial ADU, and are financing options available?
We partner with our sister company, Guerdon Modular Buildings, a leader in modular manufacturing, which builds all units off-site in a factory, and then they are driven to the final destination. Studio units start at $139,000, while the one-bedroom model starts at $157,000.
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