This owner-builder has researched the Internet for examples of cargo container residences. Apparently such homes are becoming a popular type of home amongst people seeking a "green" alternative to modular and prefabricated homes. Cargo container homes range from elaborate year-round homes to forest retreats and seaside summer residences. My research convinced me that there is a need for a website devoted to the "nuts and bolts" issues and answers about cargo container house design and construction details. My website offers information about decisions in planning for and constructing shipping container house, documenting whether to become an owner-builder or hire a contractor, what qualities and experience are needed to find and hire a contractor knowledgeable of constructing a shipping container home from an industrial "steel box”. Thoughts that are often unaddressed include, how does one choose an appropriate home site?  Deciding whether to build a foundation or place the home on pilings. How does one find skilled workers for plumbing, electrical, roofing, flooring, installing interior insulation, wall and ceiling coverings, windows and skylights?  Should one add a water storage cistern to the plumbing system? How about solar energy collectors? How can one find the right paint with insulating qualities? Such are the necessary decisions that must be made for transforming abandoned shipping containers into my economical, comfortable Cargo container house. First 100 user register for free.  Connect with the only Networking For your Cargo Container Home online.

Steel containers are sufficiently strong to store and protect all kinds of goods shipped across oceans. Once unloaded at ports of call, they are often stored for disposal because the cost is too high to return them to their home ports. Cargo containers (shipping containers) are of several sizes, usually with dimensions of 9 feet in height by 8 feet in width and range in lengths from 20 to 40 feet. They are stackable, easy to move into difficult terrain, and less costly to be used as a home than "stick-and-brick” traditional housing. They are secure, having dual, heavy steel doors at one end. The interior of empty containers appears dark and cavernous and may have some exterior deterioration from long-term exposure to sea water and outdoor storage. However, they offer opportunities: they can    be salvaged, reused and converted into creative nonconventional unique homes that contribute to environmental conservation. To an environmentalist seeking an alternative to traditional housing, they are much like clay in an artist's hands, offering many possibilities in design and interior space to accommodate a variety of individual preferences.

This Cargo Container house website is created with social-media functions similar to FaceBook© and allows for interaction between the user and the website manager, a.k.a., owner-builder.
The web site has photographs and videos that demonstrate how Cargo containers may be configured - attached to make a variety of "modern" homes. Members who join cargocontainerhome101.com site will be able to post photos, videos, create events and groups to share their issues, experiences and solutions. They can submit questions about the on-going construction that ought to make the user-experience valuable, not only for the cargo container house (owner-builder) of this website, but anywhere in the world.

The owner-builder will document the construction activities with videos organized by logical categories, e.g., foundation-footings, welding, plumbing, electrical, insulation, windows, potable water storage [including a cistern), roofing, paint, etc., making for easy access and finding solutions to issues. The owner-builder is negotiating with a television cable station to broadcast the development to a wider audience in South Florida. This is all intended to encourage networking amongst people interested in reusing cargo shipping containers as "green" alternatives to traditional housing and build a cargo container house.

The website documents the planning, design, and permitting of a modest, "green" home constructed from shipping cargo containers. The home is designed to meet the owner-builder's requirements: catching the local sea breezes for cooling during the pleasant dry season experienced in South Florida and yet withstanding the powerful forces of infrequent but often destructive tropical storms; minimizing potential flooding; including large widows for natural light in a studio where the owner produces his art; have large enough service systems capable of providing for a future addition of a rental apartment; ensuring privacy to enjoy outdoor spaces during balmy evenings; include appropriate landscaping for shading to reduce electricity consumption.

You are invited to become a contributor to this project, either by advertising your contribution of business products or construction services or as one who wishes to participate through the network as a supporter of making this home environmentally "green." If you have any questions regard- ing your contribution, please send an E-MAIL to: