Towards Renewable Energy in Nunavik: Strategies for housing construction
Towards Renewable Energy in Nunavik
Strategies for housing construction
supports housing supply.
Project Home as Territory: A Blueprint for Community-driven Housing Produc<on in Nunavik aims to foster Inuit autonomy and to invent new forms of engagement between North and South when it comes to meaningful dwelling places.
The Blueprint promotes rich and open intercultural understanding and exchanges by tackling three interdependent “chan;ers” [Building Autonomy • Building Capacity • Building Houses]. Flexible and open to complex ideas, the Blueprint provides paths or i;neraries for inven;ng Stories (or Shared visions), as opportuni;es for greater empowerment
Stories take shape from a chan;er, and are built around a selec;on of promising Mo;va;ons, Assets, and Tools, such as this booklet: Tool 2 • Towards Renewable Energy.
Chan2ers [Building Capacity] Learning and fostering, especially among Inuit youth, the skills needed to meet contemporary challenges and support innova;on.
[Building Houses] Offering choices within a variety of housing types and tenure paUerns, as well as sustainable construc;on techniques and materials that are adapted to the Nunavik territory.
Research Habiter le Nord québécois
École d’architecture, Université Laval, Québec
Wri6en by
Edited by Vincent Morrier, É;enne Lajoie-Asselin, Yseult Lauzier-Larouche (research assistants)
Vincent Morrier
4.4
This booklet illustrates a range of strategies, such as renewable energy solu*ons, bioclima*c design principles, and sustainable material cycles, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of housing produc*on and energy consump*on in Nunavik. Some of these approaches are inspired by Inuit tradi*onal knowledge, showing ways towards an energy transi*on, enhancing residents’ comfort, and autonomy The booklet accompanies the “chan*ers” [Building Capacity • Building Houses] of the Home as Territory research project.
Nuna (earth) • Sila (sky) • Imaq (water)
Climate change (like seasons)
Energy production
requires
Adaptation Energy is a leading factor to be prepared for what is to come to be part of the solution
Currently, energy production is based on non-renewable resources (oil, fuel, diesel). This means that resources are gone forever once used.
One should aim for energy production based on renewable resources (sun, wind, water) that naturally replenish over time.
Preserving Nuna
Using less energy and producing renewable energy would greatly reduce the ecological impact of construction on the environment.
It would also allow Nunavik to be more autonomous with its resources and planning.
Renewable energy
Producing energy with renewable resources at the housing and village scales would lower carbon footprint.
Energy use
Building
Exploitation and transformation of materials
Transport
Inhabiting
Heating and cooling
Household appliances and tools
Inuit knowledge is a most important key Local knowledge inspires new solutions to act on climate change :
Traditional knowledge Possible applications
Bioclimatic design
Designing systems and shapes optimized for the local climate would save energy and increase comfort.
Towards renewable energy in
Durable material cycle
Limiting energy used to exploit, transform and transport materials would help reduce carbon footprint.
Nunavik
1. Passive and active strategies
1.1 Energy in housing
Passive strategies
Using natural renewable energies directly
Active strategies
Transforming available renewable energy sources into electricity
Material strategies
Reuse, local and low-carbon materials
1.2 Passive strategies
Thermal gradient
Sun and wind orientation
Formal compactness
Openings orientation
Natural light
Shading system
Seasonal adaptation
Cross ventilation
Solar heat gain Continuous insulation
Window shutters Wind protection
1.3 Passive energy in warm and cold seasons
Clear
Warm seasons
Main Goal
Keep heat out
Natural light
Seasonal adaptation
Shading system
Cross ventilation
Sun and wind orientation
Thermal gradient
Top vent North South
Single layer of skins towards south
Multiple layers of skins towards North Entrance
Roof overhang to protect from Sun
Cross ventilation
Cold porch can be removed during summer
1.4 Inspiration from Inuit clothing
Controling air-fow
Seasonal adaptation : Cold porch
Cold seasons
Thermal gradient
Wind protection
Solar heat gain
Building layers : Continuous insulation
Main characteristics
• Air fow and water vapor fow controls are fulflled by a single membrane: an air-vapor barrier (such as selfadhesive rubberized asphalt or polypropylene flm).
• This membrane is located on the exterior side of the structural frame (sheeting); it has to always be on the warmest side.
• Heat fow control is usually met by a single insulating material (such as semi-rigid mineral wool panels), in one layer or more.
Practical aspects
• The air-vapor barrier is fully supported, thus protected form wear during construction and after its completion.
• Its installation is easy, just like wrapping a gift box: the continuity and integrity of the membrane are ensured.
• It is fully visible, easy to inspect and repair.
• Since there is only one membrane, it is impossible for humidity to be trapped inside the wood structure.
• This emerging practice is more efcient and durable, although (possibly) more costly.
Warm seasons
Cross ventilation
Natural light
1.5 Active energy in Nunavik
Solar energy directly converts sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) solar panels (Tarquti).
Wind produces electricity through the rotation of blades on a turbine connected to a generator (Tarquti).
Water acts as a force that rotates turbines, which in turn drive generators to produce electricity (Tarquti).
Sun • Earth • Wind • Water Collage by Yseult Lauzier-Larouche
2.1 Material cycles and energy 2. Material strategies
Alternatives to the linear construction cycle
Workforce intensive cycles create local jobs
The diferent construction cycles
2.2 Inuit Ecological Knowledge
2.3 Circular construction in housing
Circularity in construction refers to designing, building, and managing structures in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efciency by reusing, recycling, and regenerating materials, thuse reducing environmental impact. It emphasizes closed-loop systems where materials and components retain their value and are continuously repurposed.
Prioritize renovating and modifying existing builldings
Design to facilitate deconstruction, replacement, and reuse of components
Roof tiles
Rafters
Exterior covering
Flooring
Beams
Wood Structure
Reuse construction materials whenever possible
Modular construction components
Furniture and plumbing fxtures
Windows and doors
Simple and reversible joints Systems separation (see 1.4)
Common circular design strategies
3. Architectural precedents
Experimental House
CPH Village
Complex Nuukullak
Test house in Nuuk
Experimental Housing
Test house in Nuuk
Schiestlhaus
Haukåsen barnehage
Brunstorp
Kengo Kuma and Associates
Arcgency
Biosis
Vandkunsten Architects
Nøysom arkitekter
Vandkunsten Architects
POS Pir2 Architects
Arrhov Frick
01 EXPERiMENTAL HOUSE
Kengo Kuma and Associates
Taiki, Japan
Transparent insulated walls and roof let a lot of light through
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
Taiki
Kuujjuaq
02 TEST HOUSE iN NUUK
Vandkunsten Architects
Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
Passive solar heating
Insulated core allows for thermal gradient
Double skin allows more light in while providing good insulation
Nuuk Kuujjuaq
03 SCHiESTLHAUS
POS, Treberspurg & Partner Hochschwab, Austria
Hochschwab
Kuujjuaq
04 CPH ViLLLAGE
ArcgencY
Copenhagen, Denmark
Material strategy : used container as structure
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
05 EXPERiMENTAL HOUSiNG
Nøysom arkitekter
Trondheim, Norway
Double skin allows for preheating + managing interior temperature more efectively
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
Trondheim Kuujjuaq
06 HAUKÅSEN BARNEHAGE
Pir2 Architects
Trondheim, Norway
Trondheim
Kuujjuaq
Double facade maximizes indoor/outdoor connection while maintaining energy efciency
07 COMPLEX NUUKULLAK
Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
Building geometry creates a microclimate (wind protection) + allows sunlight to reach all appartements
High compacity means more efcient heating
Nuuk Kuujjuaq
08 GENERATORN HOUSiNG
SEPTEMBRE, Secretary, Spridd
Linköping, Sweden
Linköping
Kuujjuaq
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
High compacity means more efcient heating
09 BRUNSTORP
Arrhov Frick
Huskvarna, Sweden
High compacity means more efcient heating
Double facade maximizes indoor/outdoor connection while maintaining energy efciency
Huskvarna
Kuujjuaq
Windows on opposing sides allow for cross ventilation
4. Pursuing an energy transition
Due to climate change, temperature rises and is more unstable, thuse causing the following impacts on daily life :
Unstable weather
Impacts on animal migration
Shorter cold season
Impacts on the ground and infrastructure
Impacts on fshing
Permafrost thaw
Air pollution can damage health
Impacts on harversts
Impacts can be reduced by adopting strategies such as : Renewable energy, bioclimatic design, durable material cycle and lower energy consumption.
Impacts on drinking water quality
4.1 Reducing the use of polluting energies
What can we do immediately?
Reduce energy consumption
Adopt ecoconcious lifestyles
Improve energy efciency
Adopt devices that use less energy for the same output
And tomorrow?
Develop renewable energies
Renewable energy produces less CO2 and pollution compared to nonrenewable energies
4.2 Reducing heat loss during cold seasons
20% Renewed air and leaks
Heating and air conditionning represent 54% of the electricity demand
Source: Hydro-Québec. 1996-2024. Répartition de la consommation d’un ménage.
Adding an intermediate space, a porch specifcally designed for the climate of Nunavik, could minimize heat loss when entering and exiting the house.
4.3 Reducing air conditioning during warm season
An air conditioning system is a heat pump that extracts warm air from inside and releases it outside, which necessitates energy. It also uses refrigerants which create greenhouse gases.1
A solution could be the use of cross ventilation instead of air conditioning during summer
1 Futura. 2012. La climatisation est-elle mauvaise pour l’environnement ?. Futura. https://www.hydroquebec.com/residentiel/espace-clients/consommation/consommationelectrique-sources.html
4.4 Reducing the use of hot water
Fossil fuel has to be burnt to heat up water. Using more hot water thuse equates to more fuel oil being burnt. This leads to increased pollution and Greenhouse Gaz emissions.
Hot water is the second largest energy consumer in a house (20%). 2
A solution could be to adopt eco-friendly behaviors and use energy-efcient appliances to reduce water consumption
2 Hydro-Québec. 1996-2024. Répartition de la consommation d’un ménage. Hydro-Québec.
4.5 Towards renewable energy
Diesel is a fossil fuel. It is derived from crude oil.
Its implications:
Diesel is transported by boat each summer from the south to each community in Nunavik.
A thermal power station in each community produces electricity by burning diesel.
However diesel is a... Which contibutes to...
Life-cycle emissions of diferent methods used to produce electricity:
Source : Tarquti. Des ressources abondantes et enviables.
A solution could be to move toward renewable enregy production
