This California company makes smart, off-the-grid, and 'healthy' prefab homes for to $670,000 - see inside and how they work
A home from Dvele.Dvele
- Dvele builds smart self-sustaining prefab homes that use AI to create a healthy home environment.
- The "software-defined" homes use DveleIQ and 300 sensors to monitor itself and its occupants.
- Dvele's lineup includes both homes over 3,000 square-feet and tiny homes for $150,000 to $670,000.
California-based Dvele is creating smart prefab homes with integrated artificial intelligence programs to make the homes healthier to live in.
While prefabricated homes aren't a new concept, they've often been considered the future solution for our increasingly inaccessible housing market. As a result, several prefab home makers have seen an increase in public interest, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
This includes Dvele, a technology-forward prefab home maker with a focus on improving both human and planet health.
Dvele's lineup of home models combine several major topics that have since popped up during COVID-19, specifically home buying, prefab homes, and health. Keep scrolling to see how:
Prefabrication allows Dvele to produce its homes regardless of the weather conditions, all within four to six months.
Dvele's homes under construction.
Dvele
Once the homes are ready, they can be shipped to its final destination and set in place using a crane.
Dvele's homes under construction.
Dvele
According to Matt Howland, Dvele's president, smart prefab homes are "absolutely" the future.
The Elsinore model.
Dvele
"Can you imagine an iPhone being built in normal construction conditions?" Howland told Insider in an email interview. "To achieve a self-powered, intelligent home, factory production is the way to go."
Dvele's homes under construction
Dvele
Like many prefab home builders, Dvele saw a boost in business during COVID-19.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
However, Howland attributes this more to the nature of Dvele's "healthy" homes (more on this in a bit) than the prefab aspect.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Dvele emphasizes a mid-century modern design with an open floor plan throughout its homes.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Peeking around inside, the units all look similar to that of any traditionally built home.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Aspects like the large windows, sliding doors, entertainment areas, custom cabinets, and modern utilities make its prefab nature almost unidentifiable.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The homes all have robust air quality, water filtration, and energy saving systems.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The homes can also be customized, and customers can pick from one of Dvele's six different exterior finishes.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Most of Dvele's clients slightly customize their homes to fulfill their "dream home and lifestyle," according to Howland.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Dvele has 13 models of varying sizes, but it's Elsinore model is its most popular.
The Elsinore model.
Dvele
Elsinore has been a hit with the customers due to its design, open floor plan, and "popular bedroom and bathroom mix," Howland told Insider.
The Elsinore model's front entry.
Dvele
The $640,000 Elsinore home is 2,940 square-feet with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.
The Elsinore model.
Dvele
The popular home has an open kitchen, dining, and living room layout. There are also separate laundry and powder rooms.
The Elsinore model's kitchen.
Dvele
The kitchen looks like any normal cooking area with its cabinets, pantry, stovetop, dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator.
The Elsinore model's kitchen.
Dvele
Moving on, the living room has its own cabinets, an optional electric fireplace, and sliding doors that lead occupants out to the patio.
The Elsinore model's living room.
Dvele
The primary bedroom then has its own bathroom and a walk-in closet with wardrobes ...
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
… while the other two bedrooms share a bathroom.
The Elsinore model's primary bedroom's bathroom.
Dvele
The fourth bedroom - which can function as a guest room - has its own restroom.
The Elsinore model's guest bedroom.
Dvele
The full bathrooms all have the typical necessities, including wall-mounted toilets, showers, and vanities.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Other models in Dvele's arsenal include the 3,523 square-foot Trinity. This option, the company's largest offering, starts at $670,000 and includes four bedroom and 3.5 bathroom.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Tiny home enthusiasts can also find their fit with the company's three 419 square-foot tiny homes ranging from $150,000 to $180,000.
The Emerald Mini Home from Dvele.
Dvele
No matter the model, all Dvele homes are built with DveleIQ, the company's proprietary "whole home solution" that integrates artificial intelligence "from the foundation up" to make a home's interior environment healthier.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
"While DveleIQ facilitates the normal convenience features of smart home tech, it also provides an intelligent system that will enhance the health of the occupant, the home's energy efficiency, and even the durability of the home," Howland wrote.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
To Dvele, a smart home is a home that creates a healthy environment while learning to become become more efficient overtime.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The "software-defined" homes use over 300 sensors and DveleIQ to monitor different aspects of the home, from mold to carbon dioxide.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The home can then look into the reasons of any issues that have popped up.
The Elsinore model.
Dvele
For example, when the humidity level falls under a certain point, the home's system will check for potential causes, such as open doors and the number of people in the home.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Another example: if the system notices potential water or mold damage, it will let the homeowners know, and can notify Dvele for any possible solutions.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
For example, the home can monitor its occupant's schedule and preferred thermostat settings to set the interior temperature before the homeowner arrives back from an outing, preventing the thermostat from working even when the home is empty.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
To monitor its occupants, the home can use tools like smart phones and "energy consumption patterns," according to Howland.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
"Our homes are constantly learning about their occupants and adapting to them as they start to understand a user's interaction with the home, anticipate their needs, and facilitate them through the home's systems," Howland wrote.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Dvele currently has a growing list of about 100 "intelligence home automations" that include detecting maintenance problems and helping its occupants relax at the end of the day, according to Howland.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
"The goal of DveleIQ was to build a software-defined home that could sense in real time the state of the home and react accordingly," Howland wrote. "Because of this, every Dvele home is continually getting better, like how software updates to a Tesla make it continually better."
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
According to Howland, the public has received DveleIQ well, especially as more people have begun understanding that a "smart home" isn't just automatic lights and temperature settings.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Beyond technological innovations for healthier homes, Dvele also excels in the sustainability space.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Dvele is able to decrease its waste output because its homes are prefabricated with different models that use several of the same materials.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
With the help of DveleIQ, the homes are also designed to be planet friendly by incorporating aspects like solar power, insulation, and efficient hot water heaters.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Keeping in line with the company's green forward mission, Dvele plants 10,000 trees for every home built, and uses "sustainable material sourcing."
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Like other sustainable prefab home makers, Dvele aims for passive house certifications.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The homes are also all self-powered, taking away any reliance on larger power grids.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
This is possible with a Dvele home's insulation, energy efficient amenities, and solar power use.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
A Dvele home's solar panel output changes per location and home type. As of now, most of the company's units are based in California, according to Howland.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
The prefab units also have backup battery and energy storage systems just in case.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
Are you an EV owner? No worry. A Dvele home's systems have enough energy to charge an electric vehicle.
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
“DveleIQ and our ‘Self-Powered’ initiative were both very well received by the market and we saw an uptick in owners looking for quality healthy homes,” Howland wrote. “Our sales and interest have continued to exceed our boldest expectations, it’s been awesome to see how our core tenets are resonating with prospective owners.”
A home from Dvele.
Dvele
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