Clayton zero energy

“The Maryville-based company has pledged to build all of its new homes to meet Zero Energy Ready Home specifications”

Clayton Homes is making a big, green promise for the houses it manufactures.

The Maryville-based company has pledged to build all of its new homes to meet the Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home specifications by Jan. 1, 2024. These homes will be built to reduce energy costs for homeowners.

The Zero Energy Ready homes were showcased at the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting and will be available to order in July. Clayton is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire.

The homes will have the option to add solar panels and will be built with low-energy windows, LED lighting and a hybrid water heater. When combined with solar panels or other renewable energy systems, the company says the energy efficient features can offset almost all of a home's energy use.

“We are driven to make energy efficient homes an attainable option for home buyers across the country,” CEO Kevin Clayton said in a press release. “Energy efficiency is crucial for lowering monthly utility costs and maintaining long-term affordability.”

By Jan. 1, 2024, Clayton plans to manufacture homes out of 39 facilities nationwide, all of which will be DOE certified, according to the release.

The company said it has diverted 100 million pounds of waste through recycling efforts, increased investment in solar power at its office facilities and has partnered wit the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 4.47 million trees by 2025.