Yakutsk: life and heating in one of the coldest cities in the world
In Yakutsk, a city known for being one of the coldest places on the planet, facing temperatures that frequently drop below -58°F during the winter is a daily challenge.
With record cold spikes reaching -83.2°F, heating homes becomes a matter of survival.
Heating systems in the permafrost city
The buildings in Yakutsk, many of which are multi-story structures, primarily adopt two types of heating systems: centralized heating and individual gas heaters.
Centralized heating: a traditional solution
Centralized heating, common in buildings constructed before 2010, distributes hot water through pipes that run throughout the building.
However, this system presents some significant issues.
Despite the pipes being insulated to limit heat loss, the extreme cold causes considerable thermal losses, making the system less efficient.
In areas where the insulation is damaged, the temperature can vary drastically: while outside temperatures register at -40°F, the insulated pipes can maintain a temperature of about -34.6°F, but in damaged areas, it can even rise to 48.2°F, resulting in energy waste.
Additionally, centralized heating does not allow for temperature regulation based on personal needs.
This leads to apartments that can become excessively hot, reaching even 86°F, or conversely too cold, depending on the distance from the heating plant.
Another peculiarity of Yakutsk, due to the permafrost that keeps the ground perpetually frozen, is the impossibility of burying the pipes.
To avoid thawing the ground, the pipes are installed above the soil.
Individual gas heaters: modern efficiency
New constructions, on the other hand, opt for individual gas heaters, which represent a more efficient and modern solution.
Each apartment is equipped with its own heating system, allowing residents to regulate the temperature according to their needs and save energy.
These buildings feature innovative design characteristics to retain heat.
Each entrance is equipped with three doors to minimize thermal dispersion, the external walls are about 60 cm thick and have an additional insulating layer, while all vapors produced by the heaters are channeled through a single pipe.
An apartment in Yakutsk: warmth and comfort in an extreme climate
In a typical 75 square meter apartment, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a balcony, the gas heaters are usually set around 104°F, maintaining a comfortable internal temperature of 77°F.
Triple-glazed windows and insulated walls help retain heat, but they are not without issues.
For example, the external walls can be colder than the internal ones, especially if there are cracks through which cold air can penetrate.
A particularly interesting element is the balcony, which, not being heated, often serves as a natural freezer, with a temperature slightly higher than the outside but still well below zero.
Heating costs: centralized vs. individual
Another significant advantage of individual gas heaters is the economic savings.
For a similar apartment, using about 120 cubic meters of gas can cost only 8 dollars a month.
In contrast, a centralized heating system in the same type of apartment can incur expenses exceeding 130 dollars.
Despite the evident benefits of gas heaters, this technology is currently limited to newer constructions.
It is hoped that, in the future, even older buildings can be adapted to this system or perhaps to even more advanced solutions.
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