The concept of living a sustainable life is one we are constantly seeing on media across all platforms. Ever feel like you can’t turn on the TV, log onto social media or read the latest news story without there being content that shifts toward being more sustainable?

So why does it seem like the word is everywhere? “Sustainability,” used in our terms, means doing everything possible to avoid depleting natural resources. And the reason you see this term everywhere is because it’s the small acts we do every day can make a world of difference. So, if even the acts of one person can make a positive change, could you imagine what an entire company could do?

The Clayton Built® team is SO aware of the potential impact a corporation can make on the world, that’s why we strive to implement ways to use our resources as efficiently as possible… While still building you a quality home that lasts. Wondering how? Let’s talk about it.

About Our Building Process

Ordering Precut Materials

By ordering materials to the specific sizes needed to build our homes, Clayton reduces the waste that would typically be generated if the materials were cut to size in individual facilities. Also, builders save time by reducing the number of steps needed to build our homes. Things like gypsum sheetrock, carpet and the steel I-beams that help support a home are just a few of the materials builders can order in specific sizes to minimize waste.

Purchasing Materials in Bulk

Similar to ordering materials to specific sizes, Clayton also orders precut materials in bulk because many of the same items are used so often in our home building process. These materials include things like copper wire, plumbing pipe and laminated veneer lumber.

By doing this, we’re also able to pass the savings from bulk purchasing straight to the home buyer in the total cost of their new home.

Recycling and Reusing

Excess materials can then be recycled to ensure proper disposal and potential reuse. Materials that are often reusable in our state-of-the-art facilities include cardboard, copper wire, vinyl siding, paper, aluminum, plastic, lumber, sheathing and much more!

Designing the Home

In the early stages of designing a home, our design and engineering teams think about how to make the building process more sustainable. They do this by choosing specifications and creating floor plans that utilize our standard material dimensions as much as possible, which means they consider how the manufacturer sizes their materials.

Energy Smart Home Package

Having more efficient features throughout your new home is a great way to save money on utility bills while also using less energy. That’s why the Clayton Built® team offers the Energy Smart Home package. This includes:

• CFL light bulbs
• Low-e windows
• Programmable thermostats
• Tight construction and ducts
• Upgraded insulation
• Improved efficiency water heaters
• And more

Bringing in Sustainable Vendors

When looking for suppliers of building materials for Clayton Built® homes, sustainability is a top priority. This means Clayton home builders look for brands that comply with ISO 14001 requirements and utilize green initiatives.

So, how much waste does Clayton divert? Since 2017, The Clayton Built® team has been able to divert more than 123,000 tons… Wow.

One of the Clayton guiding principles is that we will leave Clayton and the world better than we found them. These more sustainable building practices help our facilities be conscious of how they use and dispose of materials every day during our home building process.

Want to learn more about where a Clayton Built® home is actually made? We have you covered! Check out the interactive facility tour to virtually walk through a real home building facility!