Antarctica is a frikkin' weird place to live. I've had a few friends spend time at McMurdo...as maintenence workers, not scientists...and the overwhelming opinion is that people just don't belong. So while we've found our reasons to be there, it's important that we try not to leave much of a footprint.
It's also important to try to be self-sufficient because, so frequently, you are entirely cut off from the rest of the world. And those are just two of the reasons why the government of Belgium recently comissioned the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, the first zero-emission, manned scientific station in the world.
The station will be powered with 100% renewable energy, from the solar panels on the walls, to the six wind turbines on a nearby ridge. It is also designed to use 20% of the energy of comparable stations. The walls are extra-insulated, and the heating system will rely not only on regular heaters, but on passive generation from sunlight, and redistributing heat created by equipment.
The station has already begun construction, and will be installed in Antarctica this winter (summer, there.)
Via Inhabitat
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Solar Coupons, November 27, 2007
-
- +0
-
-
written by Brian Green, November 27, 2007
After a year or so of operation we'll have a better picture of how this new station works. If everything is a go, we'll have to start looking at the older camps and see if they will upgrade to similar facilities getting rid of the older technologies for more efficient ones.
Time will tell.
-
- +0
-
-
written by filip, December 08, 2007
But still, I'm not entirely dissapointed.
-
- +0
-
-
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
NOV 26
"...I seem to remember that the station was only powered for 90 or 95%..."
View all Comments