Before You Move Off-Grid: Get to Know Your Climate

If you are committed to an alternative habitat you inherently have some level of grit. The weather is not likely something that intimidates you or deters you. In preparation for your move you may be anticipating a much more intimate interface with the elements than you are used to, but you are not fearful… right? However you may be feeling about confronting a particular climate, whether that is with blissful ignorance or straight up dread, you can choose, and design, an alternative habitat that will make your experience much more pleasant. Alternative Habitats is breaking it down for you, step by step, so that your new home’s design does not just fight the elements, it works with them.

WHY LOCATION IS IMPORTANT

It goes with out saying that step one in understanding the climate conditions you will be facing, will be to understand your location. Living off grid can often mean extremes in terms of location. Affordability of land, or a desire for remote commune with nature can come with some extremes. Whether it’s the desert or the mountains, understanding what sets your location apart is crucial. Researching your locations typical climate through resources like Weatherspark.com can be a good start. This will get you some of the basics beyond temperature like; wind, rain, snow, humidity and cloud cover.

Another major thing to consider is what people are already doing in that location to accommodate for its specific climate. If you have a chance to visit and talk to locals and experts about how they design for their climate, that is ideal. If you don’t have that ability, be a keen observer. If you are in Phoenix you’ll see a lot of cinder-block buildings. If you are in Scandinavia you’ll see steeply pitched roofs. These design choices are for particular reasons to address the needs of that climate. For more research on specific design strategies by location you can check out our article on knowing your vernacular.

SEASONS

When your researching your location you may have the urge to make assumptions. For example you may think, I’m moving to the south of Spain, I’ll be fine in a bell tent without a heater! Well I will tell you, I froze my ass off when I lived there in the winter. There are four diverse seasons, make sure you know what’s going on in each of them! This can help you adapt your structure at different times of the year, or design for year-round comfort. If you are concerned about big changes in climate by, season or time of day, check out our article on Passive heating and cooling for ideas on how to make adjustments for a variety of conditions.

Another thing that understanding the seasons might teach you is if you might want to chase them. If you are not committed to a specific location you can move from one hemisphere to another in a perpetual summer in an alternative habitat with higher mobility. A van, trailer or yurt might be something you want to consider if you are not down for extended time in an extreme climate.

LOCATION SPECIFICS

There are MANY environmental factors to consider when choosing and building an alternative habitat. Here are a few of the main elements to get you started.

TEMPERATURE:

The best way to tackle a wide range of temperatures is good insulation. Insulation will protect you from both the cold and the heat. The only time that it might be okay to skimp on insulation is in very mild climates. If you envision yourself in a bell tent with only the bare essentials, consider a coastal climate, like you might find in California or Australia. Passive heating and cooling techniques have abundant options for the most extreme of temperatures. From Cross Ventilation strategies to earth mounds, you can find economical and sustainable ways to maintain a comfortable temperature.

WIND:

wind may seem like an intimidating element to combat, but wind can be harnessed to create a sustainably energy source or to control the internal temperature of your alternative habitat. The main thing to keep in mind is creating a home that can withstand the wind loads you might encounter. Wind is a “load” or force on your structure, so you’ll need to consider the best ways for your structure to be sturdy enough for particular amounts of wind. Earth homes and dome structures are a good option to withstand the conditions in high wind locations.

RAIN:

Water proofing, water proofing, water proofing. This should be your mantra for any shelter you are constructing, but especially when you are in a rainy climate. Most Alternative habitats can be effectively water proofed but PLEASE do your research and seek professional guidance if you need to! Your home will be more comfortable and last longer if you are adequately water proofed. Water proofing is done through material choices, finishes and construction detail. It can range from straight forward to extremely complicated, so even more reason to heavily research this area.

SNOW:

From wood burning stoves to “warm roof” construction it is easy to create a comfortable environment. Snow presents a difficulty to some alternative habitats because, like wind it is a “load”. It is important to distribute that load or try to eliminate it. This is why you might see a lot of A Frame houses in the Mountains, the snow can slide down it and distribute in a way that limits its force on the structure.

HUMIDITY:

This is a tricky one. High humidity equates to the highest levels of discomfort for me. The key to controlling humidity is keeping the air flowing! This can be through solar powered mechanical systems or design strategies to utilize wind through the space.

SUN EXPOSURE:

Understanding the amount of sun your climate will get is linked to many potential design choices and practical needs. You will have to consider if you are going to receive adequate solar energy for your power needs, and whether you might need to utilize the heat from the sun or protect yourself from it with material, structural and shading choices. Make sure that you consider the implications of low or high sun exposure when building your alternative habitat.

I hope that this peaks your interest in the impact of climate on design and the choices you will make. Don’t get discouraged, or beat down by the elements, work with them! I encourage you to look at what has worked throughout history in your specific location and be aggressive about employing sustainable comfort control in your alternative habitat.