Backpackers are aiming to trek the highest of peaks in the Himalayas, but find little or no place to rest during their journey. Since these trekking routes are open only for a couple of months in the year, Can sustainable lodgings be erected that consume minimal energy when in use and hibernate during the rainy and harsh winter months, thus saving energy ?
The Hibernating Hut is a concept of integrating a built structure with a flexible and adaptable design so that it is applicable to various different sites along the trails throughout the Himalayas. So, when the lodging starts inhabiting trekkers, the solar panels start to conserve raw energy from the sun, fuelling up the fireplace, heating the water for its consumption and livening up the hibernating hut. Since the hut has to undergo harsh weather conditions, the structure may retract and completely close to protect the permanent staff persons and equipment during the monsoon and winter months. For the ease of construction, the composition of locally available materials and materials that can be transported to site easily are used for minimal energy consumption. Using local masons and materials would help in developing localized economy of the region and decrease the cost of these multiple hibernating huts used across the Himalayas. The hut is integrated with in-house water heating systems, power generation and waste management systems to minimize impact on the environment.
