EcoHousing: Utah company makes temporary homes for disaster survivors

CLEARFIELD (Deseret News) — A Utah company famous for its outdoor products like storage sheds, folding tables and basketball hoops is now working on building homes.

Lifetime Products is unveiling the EcoHouse, a 377-square-foot housing structure that can be used as an economical "shelter solution" for impoverished areas or places affected by disasters.

Each unit is divided into a master bedroom, a bathroom, a main area and a kitchen, Vince Rhoton, senior vice president of sales and marketing, told the Deseret News. "The electrical system is powered by solar panels mounted on the roof."

The electrical work and plumbing is installed by separate contractors, with Lifetime responsible primarily for the overall construction of the unit, he said.

The EcoHouse can be fully assembled in about a week, complete with sustainable electrical, plumbing and waste management to make it a fully functional four-room home, school, clinic, dining area or meeting area at a cost of $12,000 to $15,000 per unit, Rhoton said.

The EcoHouse uses the same molding and steel technology applied to Lifetime's outdoor storage sheds, with additional customized features, including external walls, internal walls, flooring, lockable doors, windows and a roof with support beams.

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