Why Container Homes?

 

As we saw in the previous two pages, hydrocarbon fuels are being legislated out or to a lower consumption.  Why container homes?

• containers are ubiquitous, making them cheap - $3,000 to $6,000 for used to new containers for a 40.0 ft. long by 8.0 ft tall (or 8.5 ft. tall) by 8.0 ft. wide.

• containers are manufactured for mobility.  It is easy and inexpensive to transport a container from purchase to foundation.

• containers are strong and can be stacked like Lego (TM) and configured like Lego.

• containers are strong enough to withstand hurricanes and tornados.

• containers are easy to increase square footage by adding end to end, side to side, or top to bottom.

 

Because the containers are cheap, one can afford to construct solar panels, thermal panels, geothermal heat pumps, shading landscapes, water wells and leach fields.  That would make them one of the most efficient homes - dollars per square foot.  

 

The home that you see in the background was designed by Benjamin Garcia Saxe out of two 40'x8'x8' containers.  They were offset and an approximate 8' hallway joining the containers together.  This home was constructed for the Costa Rica climate with air flow set up to move through the large windows of the hallway through the small windows.  The home was constructed for $40,000, ex land purchase.