Net-Zero camp housing
How cost effective would it be to prefabricate net-zero housing for companies in remote parts of Northern BC? Would these companies go for the idea of having moveable, completely sustainable housing options at their disposal?
In order to be considered “net-zero” a structure must create just as much, or more energy than it uses. The concept of net zero is great, apart from one small problem… Money, the cost of creating a completely self sustaining building far surpasses the cost of building a regular structure. Although creating a net-zero building is much more expensive than other options and may seem undesirable to some, it could also be exactly what someone else is looking for.
The goal of this research appears to be quite an achievable one. Bigger companies such as logging and mining companies will have a much higher budget for things like housing than the general public. These buildings will become a necessity in the most remote parts of the world. Camps could be established within a few days and would leave almost no impact on the environment. These buildings would eliminate the need for generators which cost both the environment and the owner.
In order to achieve net-zero, especially in such an extreme climate, many different methods of energy conservation must be implemented into design. Solar panels will be installed on the roof of every building. Wind turbines will also be added for times of the year when there isn’t as much sun. The energy created from the panels and turbines must be stored since the power drain will, for the most part, be in the evening. The excess energy from all the buildings will be stored in a single building (most likely the cookhouse) and will be distributed to the rest of the buildings as required. Extra insulation must be added to the walls and roof in order to cut down on heat loss. Triple pane - argon gas filled windows will be installed since a significant amount of heat loss is through windows. Motion sensors will be used for all lights in order to prevent unnecessary power use.
Technical
· Solar panels on the roof of each building
· Wind turbines incorporated
· All excess power stored in one main battery building
· Motion sensor lights to ensure efficient use of energy
· Higher insulation value in the walls
· Smaller/fewer windows
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hey i dont know if you have looking into implementing a grey water heat recovery system it could be a good way to save some energy but it could bring up the cost of the houses too much im not sure here is a link to a site i found http://www.watercycles.ca/about.php it has some information on them
ReplyDeleteWill there be plumbing in the bunkhouses?
ReplyDeleteWhat you are talking about here is off-grid, not net-zero. Net-zero implies that you are connected to the power grid and can balance out your energy use with production on a yearly basis. Off-grid adds some cost as batteries will have to be used and maintained and there are environmental issues with these, but this will no doubt save a lot of money on infrastructure. Since the report focuses on northern climates, heating is obviously the most important consideration. Could passive solar heating be used? If there is plumbing, could grey water heat recovery or solar hot water heating be used? Air sealing is also important and will influence the choice of insulation and how the building is constructed.
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