Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
North-facing unheated utility buffer room
Passive · New build only
One of 2 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
What your site needs
A north-facing aspect available in the plan
An unheated room such as a garage, pantry or hall placed along the north side of the house. It sits between the cold outside and the heated rooms, so the living spaces never touch the coldest wall directly. The house loses less heat on its cold side.
Build it
Nothing separate is built here: this is a choice about how the home is designed or used.
Cost
Medium
Upkeep
None
Skill to build
None
Lifespan
Matches structure lifespan (an unheated room is a layout choice, not a separate material)
Levels are relative to the other options for this need, not absolute. Fewer dots is lighter.
North-facing unheated utility buffer room (This page) Can I use it? Not in a flat · New build only What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Medium · Skill to build: None · Upkeep: None · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you are planning a new house and want its cold side shielded by rooms you do not heat.
South-facing attached sunspace / solar greenhouse Can I use it? Not in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Medium · Skill to build: Intermediate · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: Occasional · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want free winter heat and a bright extra room on the south side.
Sources
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Limitations of this page
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.