Energy Analysis of Standardized Shipping Containers for Housing

Abstract

Shipping containers that remain in ports after exporting or importing products cause an environmental and logistical problem. Transporting them to the port of origin is costly; therefore, some of them are stored in the regions of destination. Recycling or reusing them in an efficient and sustainable way represents a clean alternative. The purpose of this article is to analyze the feasibility and impact of implementing different insulating configurations on the energy demands required by a house based on a construction with standardized shipping containers. More specifically, it assesses the impact of the different orientations in which the dwelling can be arranged, depending on the location and its meteorological data. To this aim, a construction model will be developed in which first, the geometrical parameters are defined, and second, the energy characteristics are identified. The results show that, in Southwest Europe, the western orientation generates a saving of 10% of the energy demand compared to the less favourable orientation, which is the southern one.