No More Slums: MP1 SIP Homes (Mosquito Proofed)
It is probably no news to anyone that the world is in desperate need of affordable housing solutions. These solutions need to be viable and need to consist of the very best material possible so that the homes are durable and weather resistant. Alas there is a cure to the remedy. It comes in the form of a structural insulated panel, otherwise known as a “MP1 SIP” panel. There are many SIP designs for homes, but the one that seems most attractive to a number of folks is the 500 square foot stand-alone home. Panels for such a MP1 house can be bought for about $5000.00 (FOB factory price not including shipping, windows or doors).
Basically, the MP1 SIP panels are cut to a standard design. Although the design can be modified, the standard cut home is most cost-effective (unless “row housing” is being considered). Row housing is cheaper per unit because there are common walls between each individual unit or home. In any event, the stand-alone MP1 SIP unit provides a wonderfully attractive home package that is affordable and easy to construct. It is also energy efficient due to the fact that the SIP panels are insulated. As a result, MP1 SIP homes are ideal for a variety of weather conditions – in hot weather, the MP1 SIP homes immediately cool down, and in cold weather, the heat remains in the home.
Just to provide an idea of the housing shortage that exists in different parts of the globe, the World Bank notes the following with respect to South Asia:
There is a shortage of more than 38 million housing units in the region, not counting housing in need of repair or replacement. Taking into account average household size, this translates to 212.5 million homeless people, 14 percent of a total region [with a] population of 1.5 billion.
When compared to other traditional building materials such as brick, concrete, wood and cinder block, MP1 SIP panels are far easier to work with, do not require skilled labor, and are much cheaper on average. Take this into consideration: the shell of a MP1 SIP home can be erected in just under five (5) hours. This is mind-boggling to most people and companies in the housing sector. All that is needed is a concrete slab for the foundation. The channels are affixed to the foundation and away you go. While this five-hour assembly/construction does not include internal build-out, it does nonetheless include all walls, fasteners and caulking, as well as the roof itself. So, the shell is fully intact and the home is MEP prepped (mechanical, electrical, plumbing).
There are other viable low-cost housing solutions around the globe, but few have the same insulation and durability properties as MP1 SIP panel homes. MP1 SIP homes also help boost self-esteem and promote real ownership in a viable, long-lasting house. The homes are easy to “dress” externally as well: just spray on stucco and place a nice roofing tile on top of the SIP panel roof and it becomes a beautiful Spanish villa-type home that will last for decades. It is rodent-resistant, mosquito proof, water-resistant and mold-resistant; it can also withstand hurricane winds of up to 150 miles per hour. This is not to mention the fact that a MP1 SIP home is an entirely green solution and it reduces the carbon footprint across the globe.
In essence, the SIP solution is one that developers, contractors and housing authorities should consider. It will assist to alleviate the enormous problems that we – as a global community – are facing. It provides quick, affordable access to a durable and attractive home, and it does so in a matter of hours. The only question now is this: are people willing to incorporate this as an alternative building material? For more information go to MP1 +44 0207 193 3604:
