Helping owners of manufactured homes save energy & money

"We have found that partnerships bringing together residents, utilities, weatherization providers, and other community organizations have been the most effective," shared Joel Haskard, Co-Director of the Clean Energy Resource Teams. "This approach builds resident buy-in and empowerment, which is really important, and also helps ensure that we reduce energy burdens as efficiently as possible."

1. Detroit Lakes: MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership provided targeted energy saving upgrades to all households, not just those qualified for weatherization, in three manufactured home parks in Detroit Lakes. In total, 44 homes received upgrades to lighting, water heater pipe insulation, weather stripping, and furnace filter replacement. Detroit Lakes Public Utilities provided LED bulbs.
2. Rice County: Growing Up Healthy, a program of Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, provided additional home energy saving items beyond what was already received through the Home Energy Squad visits offered in partnership with Xcel Energy. Conservation kits containing window film insulation kits, insulating spray foam, caulk sealant, and caulking gun were distributed to two manufactured home parks in Northfield reaching 170 units and five parks in Faribault reaching 300 units. We also created a video story about this partnership with Growing Up Healthy to empower manufactured home residents in Northfield to make energy-saving improvements.

CERTs also coordinated Saving Watts and Drops efforts with utilities to distribute energy saving items such as light bulbs, showerheads, and faucet aerators to 379 units within manufactured home parks in Fairmont, Minneota, Pine City, Rochester, and Worthington.

In total, Fairmont Municipal Utility, Worthington Public Utilities, People’s Energy Cooperative, East Central Energy, Otter Tail Power, and Minnesota Energy Resources distributed nearly 2,000 items to five different manufactured home parks. In most cases, CERTs worked with the manufactured home park manager to deliver the items, educational materials, and utility rebate information to each unit’s door.

Another effort involved a donation of 350 bulbs by an individual going to the Semcac community action agency in Northfield.

“Manufactured homes have specific challenges and opportunities when it comes to energy, especially in a climate like Minnesota's,” shared Melissa Birch, Central Region Coordinator for the Clean Energy Resource Teams. “Our new guides and videos highlight some of the ways that manufactured home owners can save money while improving their health and comfort.”