Sustainable Housing for the Future

The future is now, and that means more ways to build efficiently. New initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprints and reusing supplies mean more options for building materials, and for structures themselves. Using some of the basics of building, like foundation and structural integrity, engineers and futurists are brainstorming new ways to shelter the world’s disadvantaged. Perhaps we’ll even see this kind of green planning at play in our own neighborhoods one day.

Green Building Projects

The goal of green building projects is to use resources in a sustainable fashion. Used storage containers can double as homes, leftover metals are salvaged to design new structures, and newer and cheaper materials are used to build the infrastructure for sewage and commerce.

The point of green building is to reduce the overall impact that construction has on the environment around the project. The movement first began during the 1960s, when Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” first described the process. It’s partially a need, and partially a movement geared toward improving the health of future citizens on Earth.

Container Homes

Shipping containers can easily convert into homes. They have all the integrity they need to stand, assuming there is a solid foundation from them. It’s fairly easy to insulate their inside, and indeed some decommissioned refrigerated containers already have insulation in-tact. Construction workers need only cut holes into the sides for windows, and maybe a sliding glass door if the owner wishes. Multiple containers easily fit together to form additional rooms if the owner wishes. The end result is a structure that doesn’t take up much room, is easily stackable, and fits a reasonable sized family.

Improving Efficiency

Green construction projects go through several layers of evaluation before work can begin. The builder might begin by looking at methods to reduce air leakage, or add high-performance windows to reduce heat absorption. With the reduced costs of the structures themselves, these innovations are entirely possible. Water efficiency can be achieved using recycled water, and using fixtures that conserve water and cut down on waste.

Tips for Reuse

Most products that are reusable are also non-toxic, like sheep wool. Baked earth is another material seeing a comeback, as are clay and sandstone. Choice of materials is often determined by location. Cities near a port, for instance, would find plenty of shipping containers for sale that can be converted into homes.

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