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This innovative tiny home is reducing our emissions while improving work conditions.

High-performing buildings are the future of the construction industry. We have been integrating our high-performance expertise into our operational process - including our jobsites. From air quality to basic human comforts and energy consumption, existing jobsite trailers didn't match our commitment to the environment or our staff. So Pepper created a Net Zero trailer to provide a healthy and high performing environment, and inspire our industry to think differently about what's possible.

"Most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, and that environment has a significant impact on our health. That philosophy also applies to the men and women working on our jobsites. We want our trailer to match our values. So we redesigned it to focus on the human experience, productivity and quality from every aspect."

— Susan Heinking, AIA, LEED Fellow Vice President of High Performance and Sustainable Construction at Pepper Construction

Photography
© 2019 Pepper Construction

The average jobsite construction trailer emits 53,712 pounds of CO2 emissions into the air each year through its energy use. That means that each year, a jobsite's carbon footprint equates to the energy of four residential homes. Pepper's Net Zero trailer produces all the energy it needs through 27 photovoltaic panels.

Furnished with Red List Free materials, the design is flexible and collaborative. Daylight streams into the space, eliminating the need for candescent lighting. Reclaimed wood cabinets illustrate the team's understanding of where materials are sourced from while bamboo flooring replaces vinyl. Locker storage and flexible work spaces transform previously utilitarian conditions into a modern, functional and healthy work areas.

Pepper built the Net Zero trailer with locally-sourced materials. Like most buildings, the team began the process digitally, using 3D BIM models to develop the most efficient placement for MEP and data systems in the trailer and ensure quality enclosures. The team pushed the use of the HoloLens augmented reality headset to build the trailer without paper drawings. The design was also vetted through an energy model to ensure the trailer performs at peak levels.