Building with shipping containers not as environmentally friendly as it seems

With millions of shipping containers lying empty at ports around the world, it may seem like repurposing them to construct buildings would be a clear environmental winner. The reality of building with shipping containers is complicated, though, and in many cases isn’t a net-positive for the environment, critics charge, according to a report by NPR's Chloe Veltman.

Commonly, those building with containers choose newer units that have less wear and no dents. Some jurisdictions prohibit the use of containers that are damaged, that have been repaired, or that are older than two years.

Also, new units cost only $1,000 to $2,000 more than used containers—not a lot in the context of a budget for a major project. Critics say new units would be better served from an environmental standpoint by using them for their original intended purpose.

While repurposing old containers would give them a new life, they have poor thermal properties degrading any environmental benefit and building owners end up paying a lot for heating and cooling.

Given the pros and cons of container construction, critics argue that it would make more environmental sense to recycle them and use conventional construction methods for construction.

More than ever, AEC firms and their suppliers are wedding innovation with corporate responsibility. How they are addressing climate change usually gets the headlines. But as the following articles in our AEC Innovators package chronicle, companies are attempting to make an impact as well on the integrity of their supply chains, the reduction of construction waste, and answering calls for more affordable housing and homeless shelters. As often as not, these companies are partnering with municipalities and nonprofit interest groups to help guide their production.

Pallet Shelter is fighting homelessness, one person and pod at a time

Modular Building | Mar 3, 2023

Pallet Shelter is fighting homelessness, one person and modular pod at a time

Everett, Wash.-based Pallet Inc. helped the City of Burlington, Vt., turn a municipal parking lot into an emergency shelter community, complete with 30 modular “sleeping cabins” for the homeless.

Multifamily Housing | Mar 1, 2023

Multifamily construction startup Cassette takes a different approach to modular building

Prefabricated modular design and construction have made notable inroads into such sectors as industrial, residential, hospitality and, more recently, office and healthcare. But Dafna Kaplan thinks that what’s held back the modular building industry from even greater market penetration has been suppliers’ insistence that they do everything: design, manufacture, logistics, land prep, assembly, even onsite construction. Kaplan is CEO and Founder of Cassette, a Los Angeles-based modular building startup.

Affordable Housing | Feb 15, 2023

2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects

In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. Here is a comprehensive list of all projects in alphabetical order.

Data Centers | Feb 6, 2023

Modular electric rooms are the new normal

Southland Industries breaks down the prefabrication benefits of Modular Electric Rooms (MERs).

HUD Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap - HUD unveils report to help multifamily housing developers overcome barriers to offsite construction

Multifamily Housing | Feb 3, 2023

HUD unveils report to help multifamily housing developers overcome barriers to offsite construction

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences and MOD X, has released the Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap, a strategic report that presents the key knowledge gaps and research needs to overcome the barriers and challenges to offsite construction.