A Zero-Emission Antarctic Station

However, energy generation is not enough for a normal building. In order to maintain low energy use, the base is designed to be totally efficient. You will be surprised to know (as it surprised me), that the base does not need heating. The walls of the base are super-insulated, so the heat that people generate, together with a design designed to take advantage of light and solar heating, is enough to heat the base to a comfortable temperature. The energy produced is used only for scientific and electrical equipment, as well as to thaw and heat the snow that supplies water to the base. Melting snow requires a lot of energy, so we all have to collaborate in not wasting water. Small actions such as taking 3-minute showers only every two or three days, turning off the taps when brushing your teeth, etc. are necessary in order to maintain an acceptable consumption of energy and water. And it is really easy to get used to and does not pose any problem. And it is a good example for me who comes from a land where droughts are common. For the rest, showers, toilets, etc., the normal water is mixed in various proportions with waste water already treated. In order you can imagine the station better, I’ll give you a tour in person (see video).

A technical team is dedicated to maintaining and improving the base. There are mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, engineers, mountain guides, computer scientists, cooks and doctors who are dedicated to making everything simple so that scientists can dedicate themselves to science. However, we also have to contribute from time to time by helping with general maintenance and we have some days assigned where we have to contribute to cleaning the kitchen and dining room or cooking dinner on the cook's day off. And speaking of days off, we work 6 days a week and 10 hours a day, so we have only one day off per week. Even Christmas Day was a working day. Everything is set up to get the most out of our stay here. However, on Sundays we can take an excursion to the fantastic surrounding mountains. On New Year's Day, for example, I visited the Windscoop, a very spectacular ice formation under the Utsteinen.

For now, I have started the campaign by extracting the data obtained during the winter and digging up and lifting the already assembled weather station. I have also been preparing all the material for installation and making last-minute changes to the measuring station. Now everything is ready to start and I hope to start installing all the instruments soon. In the next post I will explain what my project consists of.