Recreational ecovillage in the Arctic
The project is based on a unique energy-efficient residential module that does not require constant heating
Radical differences between the project and analogues
- The design has minimal thermal inertia. The house is transferred from a preserved state (–20 °C) to an operating mode (+18 °C inside) in less than 30 minutes — exactly as long as it takes for the cast-iron stove to heat up.
- Preserving a house for “winter storage” takes less than a minute: turn off the light and turn on the tap to drain water from the system — that’s it!
- When heating with an electric heat pump, energy consumption is less than 1 kW (at −10 °C outside).
- The house can bear multiple freezing/defrosting cycles without damage due to a successful ventilation system. All the books and all the clothes that have been stored in the house since 2014 are still in perfect condition.
- There is an additional air humidification system (not ultrasonic!), independent of the electricity supply. There is comfortable humidity in the house even in completely autonomous mode, without connecting to the electric network and with stove heating.
- No foundation is needed, the structure is installed on 9 standard concrete stones.
- The steel frame provides the structure with increased rigidity. Even on swampy and unevenly frozen soils, there will be no distortions in door and window openings.
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Classic wood and ceramics in the interior go well with modern sandwich panels
During construction, only environmentally friendly materials are used to ensure an ideal microclimate in the house: natural wood, steel, modern sandwich panels produced by “green” technologies.
Microclimate in the house
The design effectively combines modern and traditional methods of maintaining a comfortable microclimate. It’s always cozy in an Arctic ecohouse, regardless of the weather or time of year.
A natural ventilation and humidification system, as well as walls with minimal thermal inertia, ensure optimal humidity and thermal comfort during all the year.
Ventilation: complete replacement of the entire volume of air within three hours at an air speed in the room of no more than 0.1 m/s; forced exhaust in the bathroom; inflow through windows (winter ventilation system).
Thermal comfort (air): temperature difference between the floor and ceiling is no more than 3 °C.
Thermal comfort (IR radiation): the temperature of all internal surfaces is almost always equal to the air temperature in the room. As far as polyurethane foam is used as insulation, cold bridges and “cold walls” are eliminated in the house.
Humidity in winter: within 45-55 percent (with a standard humidification system).
Features
The house can withstand long-term energy-independent preservation. Preparing for preservation takes no more than 1-2 minutes. Return to operating mode, at an outside temperature of –20 ˚C — no more than 30 minutes.
Area: 30, 60, 120, 240 sq. meters, depending on the number of standard modules.
Materials: natural larch (teak), stainless steel, ceramics, modern composites. The house can withstand up to 5 meters of snow cover.
Heating: Mitsubishi heat pump.
Backup heating: Swedish Jotul fireplace stove — combustion products afterburning system, fireproof glass door with glass cleaning system, ability to burn with coal, wood or even peat.
Energy consumption: from 1 kW at an outside temperature of –10 °C.
Windows: triple glazed windows, metal-plastic shutters, mosquito nets, winter ventilation system.
Door: aluminum sandwich with silicone sealing gasket.
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