Comments on: Off Grid Solar Cavco Park Model

By: Kent

Kent — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:46:07 +0000

Hi Tom – good point about actual square footage that most people will choose to downsize to. I really like the way you stated it and may try to fit that into a post sometime in the near future…Kent

By: Tom Clarkson

Tom Clarkson — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:21:58 +0000

I don’t think Ideabox has any corner on the shed roof design. In a small home, a shed roof is the ONLY design you can have to get enough solar panels on the roof and facing at something approximating a good South-facing angle.

The interior is different from Ideabox too.

Ideabox is fine if you live near them, otherwise you get shafted paying transportation costs. I hope every large manufacturer of homes in the country jumps on making green/solar modern homes.

My regret with Cavco, is that they didn’t go beyond “park model” RV (zoning can be very restrictive if you want to live in one of these), to smaller home sizes, 600 to 900 sq. ft.

Tiny homes have gotten a lot of attention, because of the extreme. Even so, I love tiny homes. However, a larger market exists for 600 sq. ft. and up. How to get people who otherwise would have bought a 1800 sq. ft. home, to maybe consider a 1000 sq. ft. solar home. That would cause a transformation.

All a company has to do is come out with one that is appealing enough, feels wonderful inside, and is affordable.

I came back here today, because your site has nice photos. Why is it that the main Cavco site, now has only one photo for this home. You download the PDF brochure and it is a floor plan only. It is as if they think that only people who are interested in a 1400+ sq. ft. home want to see pictures of the product!

It is 2009. Major manufacturers should have video of every one of their homes, just as Clayton has done with the i-house.

By: Nati Aránguiz

Nati Aránguiz — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:48:03 +0000

i like it

By: Mike Fruzzeti

Mike Fruzzeti — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:45:57 +0000

These are copies of homes that are produced by a Northwest company called Ideabox. You can check out their website at http://www.ideabox.us.

They were the first to introduce modern architecture to the manufactured home movement from what I understand.

It appears as though Cavco has paid them the ultimate complement…by completely imitating them! Very flattering.

From what I understand, the Ideabox has won a great amount of recognition for it’s sustainable construction and energy efficiency.

By: Total Solar Energy

Total Solar Energy — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:38:47 +0000

they look really good. i guess you have the climate for them over there. can’t see them catching on in the rainy north of england

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:14:52 +0000

It’s nice, but you must be able to power an A/C unit in Texas.

By: Tom Clarkson

Tom Clarkson — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:55:44 +0000

This is great. Nice exterior and simple interior design. Not as “precious” as some of them, with ruffles etc. I’ve been waiting to see a major manufacturer do this — solar park model — at a reasonable price. I hope they have a lot of success with it.

I suppose it uses the same R11 wall insulation as the regular models. Like to see them beef that up to R24 or more, but I suppose the size puts a constraint on that.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:38:08 +0000

these types of homes have come a long way since I was a kid visiting my grandma. It would be nice to have the more common type seen in trailer parks replaced with these with more modern looks.

~Dan

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:45:49 +0000

The interior of this model is stunning! It reminds me of the Michelle Kaufmann homes without the ultra-high price. Very, very nice!! I think this will be very popular among people in urban areas too.