Container Houses under Global Warming: How to Achieve Thermal Insulation and Frost Resistance

With the intensification of global warming and the frequent occurrence of extreme weather phenomena, temperature changes are no longer seasonal but show more and more anomalies. Such changes not only affect the ecological environment, but also pose new challenges to the human living environment. Against this background, container housing, as an emerging form of construction, is gradually gaining attention. In this paper, we will discuss the advantages of container houses in coping with climate change, especially the technologies and methods in heat insulation and frost resistance.

The Rise of Container Houses

Container house, as the name suggests, is a living space transformed using shipping containers. This form of construction is gradually gaining popularity for its flexibility, mobility and environmental friendliness. Especially in the field of post-disaster reconstruction, temporary housing and low-cost housing, container housing has shown unique advantages. According to the data of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy consumption of container housing is relatively low compared to traditional buildings, and higher resource efficiency can be achieved in the process of use.

The impact of climate warming

Extreme weather phenomena caused by global warming, such as high temperatures, heavy rainfall, cold waves, etc., directly affect people's quality of life. Especially in cold regions, the low temperature and snow and ice weather in winter puts higher requirements on the insulation and frost resistance of buildings. Container houses that cannot effectively cope with these challenges will affect their service life and living comfort. Therefore, research on how to improve the thermal insulation and frost resistance of container houses has become an important topic in current building design.

Application of heat insulation technology

Selection of insulating materials

The thermal insulation performance of container houses mainly depends on the adiabatic materials of their walls, roofs and floors. Common insulation materials include polystyrene (EPS), polyurethane (PU) and glass wool. These materials have good thermal resistance properties and can effectively stop the conduction of heat. For example, polyurethane foam is widely used in the walls and roofs of container houses because of its excellent thermal insulation properties.

External heat-insulating layer

Adding a layer of thermal insulation to the exterior of the container house is an effective way to improve the thermal insulation performance. By wrapping a thick layer of insulating material around the exterior of the container, the effect of the outside temperature on the interior space can be effectively reduced. In addition, the use of reflective materials (e.g. aluminium foil) as an outer layer can reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption, thus further improving the comfort of the house.

Window selection

Windows are the main conduit for heat loss, so choosing the right window material and design is equally important. Double or triple glazed windows can effectively reduce heat transfer while maintaining good light transmission. In addition, the material of window frames should also choose materials with good thermal insulation properties, such as plastic steel or aluminium alloy, with the use of insulation strips, which can further improve the thermal insulation effect of windows.

Application of anti-freezing technology

Foundation design

The foundation design of a container house is crucial to frost resistance. In cold regions, the foundation needs to be higher than the freezing line to avoid structural damage caused by ground-based freezing and expansion. In addition, the material for the foundation should be chosen from concrete with good frost resistance and consideration should be given to wrapping it with insulating material to prevent the impact of groundwater freezing on the foundation.

Indoor heating system

In cold climates, a reasonable indoor heating system is an important factor in ensuring living comfort. Container houses can be fitted with underfloor heating systems or wall-mounted heaters to ensure that the indoor temperature is within a safe range. In addition, the application of heat pump technology is gradually gaining attention, using air or geothermal energy for heating, which is both environmentally friendly and economical.

Ventilation design

Good ventilation design not only improves indoor air quality, but also effectively prevents water vapour condensation and reduces frost. Container houses can be equipped with exhaust fans and vents to keep indoor air circulating and reduce humidity, thus reducing the risk of frost caused by condensation.

Future development direction

With the exacerbation of climate change, the thermal insulation and anti-freezing technology of container housing still needs to be constantly innovated. In the future, the design of container housing will pay more attention to sustainability and intelligence. For example, solar photovoltaic panels and rainwater collection systems are used to enhance the self-sufficiency of the houses; at the same time, the combination of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables intelligent temperature control and environmental monitoring to enhance the living experience.

Conclusion

Global warming brings many challenges, but also provides new opportunities for the development of containerised housing. By adopting advanced heat insulation and anti-freezing technologies, container houses are able to maintain a comfortable living environment under extreme climatic conditions.