The impressive durability, weather resistance, and portability of shipping containers are the foundation of their versatility. This has led creative individuals and organizations to discover alternative ways to use them beyond their main purpose of transporting cargo.
One such idea that has been gaining traction recently is to convert shipping containers to homes and livable spaces. There are many appealing aspects to a shipping container home, but the most important one that stands out the most is that it promotes green living and contributes to the protection of the environment. As such, making your home in these containers is a big step towards maintaining equilibrium with mother nature.
Below are some key ways shipping container homes play a role in reducing one’s environmental impact.
1. Minimal carbon footprint
When you think about it, shipping container homes are basically recyclables in and of themselves. So, making a living space out of them significantly reduces the need for construction materials and shrinks the homeowner’s ecological footprint.
To gain a better perspective, traditional concrete structures built with blocks made from aggregates and cement contribute as much as 8% of global CO2 emissions. Hence, by repurposing old container units instead of building from scratch, homeowners do not add to the world’s growing waste volume as well as avoid using up extraneous energy beyond what is necessary to furnish their container homes.
2. Preserve metal resources for future generations
Making a home out of shipping containers offers other benefits beyond reducing the burden on the environment, primarily in preserving metal resources for future generations. This is a big step towards sustainable development, especially with the threat of climate change looming over humanity, where every little bit helps to keep more severe disasters at bay.
3. Promotes energy efficiency
A shipping container home promotes energy efficiency not just in its construction (or lack thereof, to be precise) but also in its use thereafter. For one, these homes are small, which means using less cooling, lighting, heating, and other basic needs that require energy. Research has shown that the average home uses 12,773 kWh annually, while shipping container homes can consume as low as 914 kWh. The common trend of pairing solar panels to deck the flat part of the container’s topside also helps with this incredible energy efficiency.
4. Takes up less space
It has long been common practice to clear away land by cutting down trees and essentially destroying the natural environment to make way for development projects, the consequences of which have led to the environmental problems and disasters we now face frequently. Thus, to avoid the need for tree felling and any unnecessary destruction of nature, one can consider shipping container homes that take up much less space and can be placed virtually anywhere.
Moreover, smaller container homes, with their improved portability, can be easily towed by a truck and transported to different locations. In short, since these homes occupy less space, they place a lesser burden on the environment and even preserve its beauty, which adds to the home’s character.
Conclusion
People who consider container homes for their residence often prioritize the tangible advantages first, like cost-savings and logistics, over environmental benefits, which are not always something they can see or feel directly. Nonetheless, by opting for this route, you are making a significant contribution to sustainability that helps everybody in the world and, most importantly, the environment.
If you’re interested in converting your shipping containers into homes or any other livable spaces, the possibilities are endless. Unconventional uses for converted shipping containers go beyond just homes. At OSG, we offer an array of shipping containers and ISO tank containers to meet your every need. Do not hesitate to reach out to us today for more information.
