Root cellar (passive cool storage)

Uses ground-coupled stable temperature for cool storage with no power input.

Cost

Low

Upkeep

None

Skill to build

Basic

Lifespan

Matches structure lifespan if integrated into the building (a ground-coupled space, not a separate wearing product)

Embodied carbon

Low

Space / material use

High

Output timing

Continuous process

Skill to repair

Basic

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

Ground contact/burial or a north-facing below-grade space available in the design

Inputs

• Fresh/Perishable Food

Outputs

• Fresh/Perishable Food

Tutorials

• https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Cellier_en_sous_sol/en
• https://wiki.lowtechlab.org/wiki/Cellier_en_sous_sol/fr

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.