Champion Homes Teams Up with GAF Energy and UMH Properties on Innovative Solar Powered Roof Shingles Installation

Champion Homes is proud to collaborate with GAF Energy and UMH Properties on a pioneering project that marks the first time solar shingles have been installed on HUD-code homes directly at a manufacturing facility.

GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar ® roofing system was installed on 20 manufactured homes at Champion Homes’s Topeka, Ind., manufacturing facility. They were then electrically connected onsite at Friendly Village, a UMH Properties manufactured housing community in Perrysburg, Ohio. Residents started moving into the homes in April.

As the world’s first nailable solar roof shingles, the Timberline Solar ® roofing system provides the benefits of solar panels while delivering the durability and aesthetic appeal of traditional roof shingles.

Adding solar shingles to Friendly Village homes offers residents the opportunity for lower utility costs and reduced environmental impact through a cleaner energy solution.

Friendly Village is an all-ages community offering high-quality homes available for both rent and sale, providing flexible housing options for residents. The project is part of a UMH Properties pilot program designed to evaluate the feasibility and impact of integrating renewable energy solutions into manufactured housing. 

“Our mission is to provide residents with quality, affordable housing while embracing innovation that enhances long-term value,” said Aaron Potter, Vice President of Sustainability and Urban Development at UMH Properties. “By being an early mover in integrating renewable technology at scale, UMH continues to demonstrate that manufactured homes are a forward-thinking solution to the nation’s housing challenges —delivering quality, affordability and innovation in one package.”

This project demonstrates yet another way Champion Homes is committed to sustainability. In March, Champion launched EcoWise™ at its Sangerfield, N.Y., manufacturing facility. EcoWise™ is an upgrade of high-performance enhancements that make a manufactured home so energy efficient, a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home's annual energy use. Additionally, Champion recently announced that ENERGY STAR® Certified homes are available at 40 of its U.S. manufacturing facilities.