Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

Updated: September 28, 2017

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

Outfitted with a cooling system, heated floors, and a wood stove, the home is far from rustic. It’s powered by solar panels that tile the roof of Dupuis’ nearby workshop—also made of shipping containers—and water is drawn from a neighbour’s supply. The home is essentially off-grid, which means that Dupuis' biggest bill for the two years he lived there was his cellphone bill.

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

Dupuis researches renewable energy at Algonquin College and told the Daily Mail that he saw the whole endeavour as one big science experiment. He bough the shipping containers for $3,400 each at the Hamilton Harbour and built the home in just three months on land owned by his family.

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

The 355-square-feet of interior space is filled by a kitchen, living room, and dining area. Dupuis also had a small bedroom set up during the years he lived full-time at the cabin with his dog Beatrice. While the outside is a little stark, the inside is cozy and bright thanks to big windows and an open-concept design.

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

Dupuis wants to help others build their own shipping container homes. He believes they are a great—and sustainable—alternative to traditional housing, especially for young people who are carrying a lot of debt.

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

Dupuis now lives closer to Ottawa, but he still has big things planned for his remote cabin. He wants to add a fourth container that would house a second-floor bedroom. He's also considering installing a glass ceiling so he can look at the stars before he falls asleep at night.

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Ottawa man builds beautiful solar-powered home out of shipping containers

One person’s used shipping container is another’s pre-fab home, or at least that’s the case for Ottawa’s Joseph Dupuis. The 29-year-old used three shipping containers to construct a self-sustaining and ecologically friendly cabin in the woods 50 kilometres outside of the city.

One person’s used shipping container is another’s pre-fab home, or at least that’s the case for Ottawa’s Joseph Dupuis. The 29-year-old used three shipping containers to construct a self-sustaining and ecologically friendly cabin in the woods 50 kilometres outside of the city.

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