Authors: Javier Baella Silva, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Year: 2013
Problem: To find an alternative building solution for the shortage in low-income
housing by the use of ISBUs.
Four common misconceptions regarding ISBUs are noted by author.
Methodology Cost Comparison between Traditional Concrete/Steel Construction and ISBU
: based Construction is derived. Building Code comparison between ISBU vs
Traditional Construction is gathered.
ISBU-based construction provides an alternative that is considerably lower in
Findings: terms of the structural component, and that can be built faster. There is 34$
per Sq.ft savings from traditional concrete low income house.
INTERMODAL STEEL BUILDING UNITS AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR
BUILDING LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNITS IN PUERTO RICO
Relevant Data:

Table 1: Building code Comparison ISBU vs Traditional Concrete Construction.

COMPARATIVE LIFE CYCLE ENERGY AND COST ANALYSIS OF
POST-DISASTER TEMPORARY HOUSINGS
Authors: Adem Atmaca, Nihat Atmaca
Year: 2016
Problem: The objective of this study is to identify whether it is more convenient to use
prefabricated (PH) or Container housing (CH) in post disaster reconstruction
projects
Methodology Energy is calculated in both construction and operation phases of the
: structures over a period of 15 years. The LCEA (Life Cycle Energy
Assessment) and LCCA (Life Cycle Cost Assessment) methodologies are
used to determine the objective. LCEA accounts for all the energy inputs to a
system in its life cycle including the energy used in manufacturing,
operational and demolition phases. The LCCA is applied to quantify costs of
whole buildings, building components and materials in the construction
industry. The project costs, Utility costs, maintain ace cost, Service Costs and
End if Life cost are the cost components of LCCA. The Energy and Cost
analysis based on the base area and life span of the housings are calculated.
Outcomes: Life cycle cost of PH is 29.7% less than CH – Life Cycle Energy of PH is
25.7 % less than CH.
It is better to construct bigger houses with a higher number of occupants.
The analysis has shown that housings with larger floor areas are more energy
and cost efficient.
Relevant data:
Table 1: Material quantities and EE intensity values for PH70

Table 2: Material quantities and EE intensity values for CH20.

Figure 1: Life cycle EE of PH70 and CH20 in construction phase

A PERFORMANCE COMPRISON OF ORDINARY AND CONTAINER

CLASSROOMS IN AUSTRIA
Authors: P. Kaveh and A. Mahdavi
Year: 2013
Problem: This paper compares the indoor environment of ordinary and container
classrooms in a number of schools in Austria.
Methodology Data loggers and sensors were installed in each school to measure the .
: Temperature and relative humidity sensors were installed in four classrooms
of each school.
Outcomes: Life cycle cost of PH is 29.7% less than CH – Life Cycle Energy of PH is
25.7 % less than CH.
It is better to construct bigger houses with a higher number of occupants.
The analysis has shown that housings with larger floor areas are more energy
and cost efficient.