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OFF THE GRID LIVING IN COLD CLIMATES

Eng. Arch. Janusz Barnas, Ph.D., M.Sc. Eng. Arch. Krzysztof Barnas

Abstract

The goal of this article is to present the problem of sustainable, self-sufficient and off-the-grid buildings in cold climates. Living off-the-grid is a part of the drive for sustainable living, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Buildings that are self-sufficient and which are not a part of the traditional power generation infrastructure have, on average, a much smaller environmental footprint and produce much less carbon dioxide, relying on renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly construction and material solutions. Access to such renewable energy sources is not equal in all parts of the world. For instance, photovoltaic cells and solar panels are much more effective in warmer climates due to the statistically much larger number of sunny days. In colder climates, however, there are much fewer sunny days per year, while lower temperatures increase the demand for power for heating purposes. Colder climates also have statistically shorter days, which reduces the amount of power that can be gained from photovoltaic panels and increases the time that indoor lighting is used. The paper features an examination of the various solutions that are employed in the construction of sustainable and off-the-grid buildings in order to adapt to these conditions. The authors compared the elements typically used in warmer climates with their cold-climate counterparts, providing an outline of the modifications that are necessary for them to work and be effective.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2017h/63/s26.074

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