Container Barn
CLIMATE-SMART DESIGN
The climate-smart utilities of the Container Barn, in particular our power supply and water management systems, further our project’s capacity and the founders’ commitment to reduce (and eventually eradicate) fossil fuel use, sustainably manage access to clean water, increase biodiversity, and generate a negative carbon footprint on the Burkett Farm site. The building’s infrastructure also offers unique teaching opportunities and data sets for using resources thoughtfully and being critical consumers.
POWER
The Container Barn’s electrical needs are supplied by an off-grid system made up of solar panels and battery storage. The 56kwh solar array–made up of 144 panels on our south-facing roof–is processed through 7 inverters, and stored in a daisy-chained battery system made up of 18 Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries.
Why off grid? First and foremost, as a commitment to the educational and experimental learning process that lies at the heart of Burkett Farm. In this format, our success and failures at energy conservation and conscientious resource management come with real consequences - much as they would in developing areas where off-grid systems are the only option available.
WATER
Our dedication to demonstrating different sustainable designs for managing stormwater led us to one of the most ambitious components of our new utility system: a water treatment plan representing a Spherical Economy-Multiple Resource approach.
Combining the disciplines of wastewater treatment, rainwater reclamation, stormwater landscape management, and other smart designs, its development was a collaborative effort of multiple engineering firms and advisors, led by Dr. Albert “Bob” Rubin, an Emeritus Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
In planning the Container Barn, our design team sought out materials with the following standards:
Low or no carbon emissions in the production process
Upcycled or recycled components
Avoiding fossil-fuel derived materials
Energy-efficient; low power draw
Everything from the paint to the wood used in the trusses and decking was chosen with intentionality and in keeping with these tenants.
Spaces & Features
EXPLORE THE CONTAINERS
