Shipping containers in a sustainable city

摘要

The challenges of sustainable urban development are tremendous. More than half of the earth's population lives in cities and there is an upward trend. On a global scale, the cities are the greatest greenhouse gas producers and the biggest consumers of water and energy. Urbanisation, climate change and demographic change are forcing metropolises to make their infrastructure more efficient, be environmentally friendlier, keep the high standard of living and if possible save costs. One of the keys is the selection of materials. Buildings are responsible for 40% of the energy consumption and approx. 21% of produced CO_2 worldwide. Scientists and researchers from all over the world are looking into new technologies, so that energy could be used efficiently and CO_2 emissions reduced, without having to pass on comfort or "lifestyle habits" [nachhaltige-stadtentwicklung.html?stc=deccc020187 (accessed 27.04.2012)]. Sustainability is a complex term, used in the last 2-3 decades. It involves more than just the environment and it concerns every one of mankind [cf. Schlussbericht der Enquete-Kommission Glob-alisierung der Weltwirtschaft - Herausfordeung-en und Antworten, Drucksache 14/9200, , p. 393]. This is why social and engineering scientists from RWTH Aachen University have joined in their efforts to figure out how used shipping containers, which are in abundant supply, can play their role in the future of sustainable construction. After they have been used several times, freight containers