Design Investigation of Container-based Residential Buildings for Improved Energy and Environmental Performance: Integrated Life Cycle Perspective

Abstract

Container-based residential buildings (CBRB) can attain low-energy and low-environmental impacts through systematic envelope design and material selections focused on life cycle perspective. Critical influences for the upcycling of shipping containers into modular buildings include its module-like geometry, which allows for stacking as building blocks, and other environmental benefits of avoided impacts/credits associated with recycling such products. This thesis takes an integrated life cycle perspective to investigate the effects of selected envelope design parameters on the overall building performance (i.e., energy, environmental, and economic) of CBRBs as summarized: 1) building materials and envelope configurations, 2) detached and row housing design, and 3) apartments (i.e., multistorey and layout). Calgary, Canada (AB, Latitude 51°N), is chosen as the study pilot location. The research begins with a selection of building envelope design parameters, followed by energy performance analysis. The second part of the study focuses on environmental life cycle impact assessment, life cycle cost analysis of selected scenarios, and the interpretation of results to report potential environmental impacts and design implications. Other building envelope aspects such as thermal bridging analysis and achieving improved airtightness are excluded from the thesis. However, methods of construction to eliminate thermal bridging effects and ensure continuous insulation and airtightness in container buildings should be covered in future research, to ensure that high energy efficiency such as analyzed in the thesis can be reached. The integrated approach aims to enrich the thesis and provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of various design decisions undertaken to realize low-energy and low-impact container-based residential buildings. The thesis proposes design recommendations for improved energy and environmental performance of container-based buildings. It contributes to advancing scientific knowledge in developing single and multi-unit CBRB by addressing some challenges associated with its application in attaining high performance.