bagelpower's Profile

Cost of building with shipping containers - it is NOT cheaper than building the old-fashioned way. Cost of containers has increased over the past 3 years as many container mfg have closed down due to the reduction in shipping goods. If you are building in an area with little to no building codes this could be a very cheap building option but with normal regulatory oversight and building codes, most container structures require reinforcing steel placement and the interior finish work is extensive so the savings in the core are negated.

We are building with containers for other reasons than cost - most of all because we are sick of traditional homes and like the recycled aspect. Our containers are 15yo and just got off a ship bringing goods from China....its an exciting process.

cottonwoodmeadow.com

This is Oh so familiar. We have been living in a temporary residence (1972 double wide mobile home) for 3 yrs now while we build our new home.
It has no insulation left and awful pseudo glass windows. Each winter we put bubble wrap on all the windows and then window film, spray foam insulate all the cracks and even have packing tape covering some cracks we can't get foam into. It a great look (sarcasm) and in the winter each morning its low 40's in the house. We have a heater in the bathroom and put foam pipe covers over the base of the door to keep it warm in there. I use a hot water bottle in bed and we do have a little pellet stove that we use for a few hours in the evening.

Its hard to function and get things done when its this cold inside, you get dressed immediately in the morning into your clothes that you stored in the bathroom and put your boots and jacket on in the house. But its fantastic not having a gas or large electric bill. I will be happier when the new house is done and we have radiant floor heating throughout but it sure makes you appreciate a little think like heat.

Don't think most Re-Nest followers are going to use McMasterCarr (rip offs used for commercial applications only). I am sure most DIYers use Home Depot or Lowes where a 1/2" flange is $7. And the flange look is way cooler.

Wow - what a weak argument this piece makes, hardly worth the cyber space.
Increased manpower - HOW IS THAT NOT GREEN!!
Yes it takes fossil fuels to cut out and weld the containers and shipping to the site. But no where near what it takes to harvest trees, process, transport to retail, transport to site, tools on site to cut, nail etc... Not even close.
Then you have to look at the energy to transport an emtpy container back to Asia to be re-filled or for that container to be scrapped versus utilizing it as a home/office/store.

And yes some of these could have contaminates on the floor, easily replaced if you find this is so with recycled wood etc..
Some may contain lead paint exteriors but if you insulate one side of it and then paint or surface the other its completely contained and doesn't require removal or risk as its encapsulated.

I think Brian should do some real time data analysis and LCA of this process versus a traditional home building process and only print when he has some useful data and more than "increased manpower".

Fantastic blog post. We are building a house (energy efficient) and are choosing roof colors and really want a white roof. These numbers are the hard sell - LOVE IT.
Thanks for the info - white roofs are a real change we can quantify.

This list is a great resource - one little thing, the Whole House Building Supply & Salvage is in San Francisco, not Southern CA.

I found this just to solve this exact problem with the kitties.
http://clearlyherban.com/
its a brilliant solution and I can grow all the herbs year round.

Anyone have any ideas of how to do this at work? We are pushing for a paper towel free work place, but haven't hit upon the perfect solution yet...

Bagless -at my last roommate situation we had a bagless DYSON, best vac EVER, so easy and amazing performance with 3 dogs and 2 cats. When I got married and inherited my husband's bagged vac, its awful, the bags are a pain, they fill up in no time, you have to constantly buy more, emptying it is no easier than a bagless, its awful.

Love it too, shame their website isn't in English.