Sustainable Development (Knowledge Platform)

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Preamble

This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet:

Global LinQ initiate Global Construction

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Everywhere in the world, but especially in developing countries, people need houses, shops, workshops, offices, schools, clinics, stables, etc. that are durable and strong enough to withstand floodings and other meteorological excesses, while at the same time the constructions should also be cost effective. Therefore, Global Construction chose to utilize used shipping containers as building blocks for all kinds of buildings.

The reasons why Global Construction loves to work with containers are:

1. STRENGTH

Containers have an enormous structural strength. You can pile up six to eight loaded containers and still no container shows any sign of deformation. Therefore, you can use containers to build small and even bigger buildings. And that is a very great advantage.

2. PRICE

At the moment there is a great surplus of containers all around the world. As a result, the prices of containers have come down substantially. For example: a 40' high cube container is now ± € 1,000.00. In other words; you can buy a fairly sized space for only little money. Hence, containers are affordable building blocks for all kinds of buildings.

3. FLEXIBILITY

Another advantage of containers is that you can easily cut parts out of them and weld things on. So, you can easily prepare containers to combine them and weld them together to build larger rooms, buildings, etc. This is the type of flexibility one welcomes wholeheartedly in a building project. This type of flexibility allows one to use containers for houses, estates, schools, student campuses, office space, shops, clinics, warehouses, etc.

4. FOUNDATIONS

When one starts building our house, one usually builds the foundation exactly in the same shape and according to the same measurements as the house that goes on top of it. However, building with sea containers also allows for simple foundations. For example, you can take PVC pipes, cut them to length and

cast strong re-enforced concrete pillars in it, giving their exteriors a very smooth and neat finish right from the start.

On top of the reinforcement inside a pillar one first welds a square foot piece of metal. And once the concrete is cast and tried, one can weld the base of a container on top of this metal sheet. Eight concrete pillars suffice to carry a 40' high cube container. A strong building on a solid foundation offers safety against floods and storms.

5. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

Especially when the building is a few feet of the ground, this type of 'open foundations' with the pillars makes it easy for plumbers to the repair piping systems, for electricians to work on the electric systems, etc.

6. FOR ALL BUDGETS

Builders [and clients] can finish container buildings according to their likings and their budget.

a. If someone has a small budget, he can just paint the metal walls off the house.

b. If he has more money, he can weld thick metal netting' to the container, put pebble-stones behind it and then plaster the outside of the sea container. And after that he can paint it.

c. And if you wants to make his building extra durable, he can cover the walls with tiles. The last two options also help to isolate the container from the outside.

7. SAVING ON INTEREST

For those who have to finance their building project, the use of containers as building blocks has a extra financial advantage: one can save on rent and move into the rudimentary building after finishing one or two containers only. The building then can be finished phase by phase whenever cash is available. When planning building phases carefully, you can also plan a lower mortgage and saving a lot of interest. Like this one can finance the building process in a far ore economic way.

8. ISOLATION

Inside container buildings one can also add isolating panels or other materials. All required piping systems, electric wires, etc. can be fixed against the walls, or hidden behind the most isolating materials and/ or on the ceilings. One can finish the interiors and exteriors of container buildings as luxurious or as simple as one desires. It is all a matter of budget and taste.

9. ROOFS

In order to increase the comfort inside a container building, one can isolate the roof in several ways. For example: one can weld and edge around the roof, fill it with earth and grow low growing plants on the roof. This simple technique protects both against heat and against cold. Another possibility is to construct higher roof over the whole building and cover it with solar panels. This creates a nice extra space on the top floor and - depending on the electronic equipment that is used inside the building - it makes the building [at least partly] self sufficient. Such an overhanging roof also keeps the sun away from the walls of the container house, preventing the building to heat up during warm days.

10. WATER

On top of buildings one can build slightly pointed roofs with gutters on the sides to collect rainwater. Rainwater which falls on the roof runs down into the gutters, then through pipes down into a big tank, where all the water is collected and stored. This water can be used for personal use, cleaning, irrigation, etc. and that makes living "off the grid" a lot easier.

Illustration:

This is a single 40' High Cube container, based on a simple foundation of a few concrete poles. The other ones are for the construction of the porch.

This is the finished product: a nice cabin with a covered porch. Nice style; great surroundings.

This is part of the interior. Container houses are strong and you can make it as beautiful as your fantasy and your budget can carry you.

Classic / colonial type of container house: 1 single 40' High Cube container and a fenced porch.

Another 40'container house. You can equip it further with solar panels, a water pump (+ storage tank, etc.!) Like that you'll be able to live completely 'off the grid'

2x 20' High Cube containers side-by-side.

Two story container building. Great for 2 big families

Big, light house from 6x 40' High Cube containers and 2x 20' High Cube containers. Immense space; gorgeous light!

A container classroom of 2x 40' High Cube containers. With 24 containers Global Construction can build 6 classrooms for a primary school, with a few containers extra we can add a teachers room, a directors office, a library and a gym.