The Challenge

Currently, there are 1.6 billion individuals who lack proper housing, according to Habitat's report in 2015. This staggering number represents approximately 20% of the global population. Due to rapid urbanization and population growth, it is anticipated that 70% of the homes that will exist in Africa and Asia by 2050 have not yet been constructed, and according to the United Nations Environment Programme's findings (2020), structures where people dwell generate 40% of all carbon emissions. In developing countries, high levels of poverty, rapid urbanization, and natural disasters often combine to create a crisis of housing insecurity. Many people are forced to live in substandard conditions, such as overcrowded slums and informal settlements without access to clean water or sanitation. These conditions affect their physical health, mental well-being, and social relations. Thus, to tackle the issue of housing for present and future generations, it is necessary to build affordable houses for most people using scalable and climate-smart technologies that are quick in construction and deployment.

The company was founded by a team that witnessed housing shortages due to various refugee crises as well as large numbers of displacements in Pakistan. They aim to tackle the $650 billion affordable housing gap by providing sustainable and affordable housing solutions.

The Solution

ModulusTech solves the housing challenge by using an innovative, flat-packed, and modular concept that is cost-effective, quick to set up, and provides proper living conditions while being relocatable. Using an industrialized approach, ModulusTech builds housing kits in a factory that can be flat-packed and transported efficiently to a project site and assembled manually by semi-skilled labor. The innovative modular housing design can be assembled in as little as 3 hours by three people using simple hand tools and costs as little as $9000 for a 2-bedroom house or $12/sq.ft. The flat-packed housing technology is a powerful antidote to climate change, reducing CO2 emissions to a fraction of conventional houses. ModulusTech's alternative housing produces 50 times less greenhouse gas emissions compared to concrete buildings. The company hopes its solution can be used to provide homes for the poor, displaced, or homeless people. ModulusTech has been recognized by the UN, Global Cleantech Award, and has received funding from the Islamic Development Bank, international Non-Governmental Organisations, as well as some angel investors. The company's proprietary technology is modular and customizable, carbon-neutral (net zero carbon emissions), autonomous, and off-grid. 

The materials used and the design employed ensure that the houses are affordable and sustainable.  The technology thus excels in 4 areas: cost, time, sustainability, and scalability. Moreover, each home has 90% lower carbon emissions in comparison and offers elevated levels of thermal comfort to occupants due to their energy-efficient design. This makes the homes climate-smart and prepares families to combat the effects of climate change. As a result, in hot climates, these homes can have internal temperatures 10-20 degrees cooler without air-conditioning. ModulusTech further integrates these homes with solar panels or other renewable sources of energy to make the housing community self-sustaining and carbon-neutral. The homes operate 100% off-grid and have been certified by the International Finance Corporation for their green credentials. With at least 40-60% lower construction costs and high speed of delivery, the homes offer a high return on investment to developers and cost much less for end-users.

Potential for Scaling Up

ModulusTech’s technology is proprietary and patented. In Pakistan, the technology has received sector-wide acceptance in housing, sanitation, healthcare, education, B2B, and tourism projects with repeat customers. Moreover, the technology has been tested across various regions of Pakistan at over 70 project locations. The company's manufacturing facilities, which incorporate advanced equipment, can be replicated in other countries. Once the manufacturing infrastructure is in place, ModulusTech can adapt its designs to suit local needs and regulations. Furthermore, the company requires only semi-skilled workers to assemble its modules, which means that it can be beneficial for local economies and communities that lack skilled labor. Furthermore, the company's efforts to establish partnerships and joint ventures with other countries show its intent to share its technology and knowledge base. ModulusTech has proven technology that can be transferred to other countries, and with the demand for cost-effective, climate-smart modular buildings expected to rise, the company is well-positioned to meet these needs.