Manufactured houses "have an eco-friendly advantage"

Buildings that are constructed offsite "have an eco-friendly advantage" over their onsite counterparts, it has been argued by a modular construction organisation.

The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association made the comments when pointing out how efficient their sector of the construction industry is.

"Being factory built, it's easier to control the amounts of waste created and recycled throughout the homebuilding process," the organisation said.

"Building materials are precut with factory-built homes, significantly reducing waste by up to 70 per cent."

It recommended prefabricated homes to developers as a "smart investment" because consumers are increasingly demanding buildings that are better for the environment.

Some offsite built houses can use less than up to 35 per cent less energy per year than other alternatives.

Offsite construction is being used at various high-profile projects around the UK, including the building of the Olympic facilities for London's 2012 games.