Many of us are trying to do our bit for the environment and lessen our impact. The green living trend took off many years ago and has flourished as we learn more about sustainability and how we can make eco-friendly choices. From small efforts to large ones, we can each play a part in protecting the planet, but while we do this, we still need a roof over our head and place to call home. So why not combine the two and consider a shipping container?
Beautiful and functional homes can be built from shipping containers, and they don’t have to cost the earth. Here’s how.
Recycling and Reusing
Giving a shipping container a second purpose after it has travelled across the world as storage, is a great way to lean away from the disposable tendencies of society to recycle and reuse. This means less wasted material, and if maintained well, your shipping container home can last up to and over a decade. This is perfect for those who want to live in a certain place for only a particular amount of time.
Less Use of Cement and Concrete
This may not be something that many people know but the processes used to manufacture cement and concrete are not environmentally friendly. That is the beauty of a shipping container home, as you do not need to build the structure, you will typically use less cement and concrete. You will only require the materials for the foundations and the amount needed will depend on the size of the structure you want to build. So, if you want to create a small shipping container home, you will use less cement and concrete and push less toxins out into the atmosphere.
Sustainable Features
You can use your shipping container home to harness the elements and create a truly sustainable living space. You can add wooden shingles to cover external walls, plants large bushes for shade and create an external roof to shade the entire container, as well as add solar panels. While you may not be able to generate enough power for all of your needs, you will be able to power some of your appliances and reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible. Rainwater collection is also an easy and great option to lower costs and your impact.
Start Your Journey with Us
If you are interested in building an environmentally friendly shipping container home, you need to start with a shipping container. Browse our range, or get in touch to speak with our team at South West Containers about your needs today.