Purpose

The introduction of shipping containers in the trading system has increased world economic growth exponentially. The main drawback of this linear economy consists in the accumulation of empty containers in import-based countries. Designers throughout the world are working with intermodal containers for environmental purposes, often employing them as building components. This research aims to evaluate the environmental impact of a container dwelling in comparison with similar steel and X-Lam structures.

Method

In order to estimate the effective sustainability of container structures, a comparative LCA has been undertaken. A cut-off approach was adopted focusing on Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), Acidification Potential (AP) and Eutrophication Potential (EP). To ensure reliable comparisons, a functional unit with combined spatial and thermal requirements has been defined. The proposed unit includes a total floor surface of 206.6 m² and transmittance requirements in accordance with IECC standards. Three scenarios have been identified to address cold, temperate and hot climates within import-oriented places: Vancouver, Durban and Chennai. For hot climates the functional unit has been implemented with a minimum Periodic Thermal Transmittance.

Results and discussion

It can be generally stated that the use of shipping containers as building components leads to overall environmental benefits compared to steel and X-Lam structures within the boundaries of this analysis. The main advantages of container structures are related to easy reclaim of structural materials, creative reuse and shorter construction schedules. While the use of containers as building components demonstrated the best environmental advantages for cold climates, those benefits can be overturned by improper choices of thermal masses for hot and temperate climates.

Conclusions

Empty containers are accumulated worldwide as a result of the linear nature of the trading system. With an upcycling process, the “stored” steel contained within abandoned freight containers is introduced into the circular economy of the building sector. Therefore, shipping containers can be regarded as waste objects that can be used as building components thus avoiding the use of steel from other processes or the extraction of virgin materials during the product stage. This upcycling process provides for each 200-m² new house a general global warming potential reduction ranging from 20 to 25 tons of CO₂ equivalent compared to steel frames and 10 to 26 tons reduction compared to x-lam structures in cold and hot climates, while resulting in an increment of + 3 tons in a temperate scenario.

中文翻译：

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升级运输集装箱作为建筑组件：环境影响评估

目的

在贸易体系中引入集装箱运输已使世界经济增长成倍增长。这种线性经济的主要弊端在于在进口国堆积空容器。全世界的设计师都在出于环境目的使用联运集装箱，经常将它们用作建筑组件。这项研究旨在评估与类似的钢结构和X-Lam结构相比，集装箱住宅对环境的影响。

方法

为了评估集装箱结构的有效可持续性，已进行了比较性的LCA。采用了临界方法，重点是全球变暖潜势（GWP），臭氧消耗潜能（ODP），酸化潜势（AP）和富营养化潜势（EP）。为了确保可靠的比较，已定义了具有空间和热量需求相结合的功能单元。拟议中的装置的总地面面积为206.6 m ^2，并符合IECC标准的透光率要求。确定了三种解决进口导向地区的寒冷，温带和炎热气候的方案：温哥华，德班和金奈。对于炎热的气候，功能单元已实现了最小的周期性热透射率。

结果和讨论

通常可以说，在此分析的范围内，与钢结构和X-Lam结构相比，使用运输集装箱作为建筑组件可带来总体环境效益。集装箱结构的主要优点与结构材料的易于回收，创造性的重复利用和较短的施工进度有关。尽管使用容器作为建筑部件在寒冷气候下表现出最佳的环境优势，但对于高温和温带气候，如果选择不适当的热质量，则可以抵消这些优势。

结论

由于交易系统的线性性质，空集装箱在全球范围内积累。通过升级处理，将废弃的货运集装箱中包含的“储存”钢材引入建筑行业的循环经济中。因此，运输集装箱可以被视为可以用作建筑部件的废物，因此可以避免在生产阶段使用其他工艺中的钢材或提取原始材料。此升级过程为每200 m ²新房提供了全球范围内总体变暖潜力的减少，范围从20吨到25吨CO ₂ 与钢架相比，在寒冷和炎热的气候下与x-lam结构相比减少了10到26吨，而在温带环境下增加了3吨。