Solar Passive Houses reduce pressure on pastureland during winter by creating a warm indoor climate
Natural resources, particularly rangeland, dominate the landscape of Afghanistan. According to the Land Cover Atlas of Afghanistan, approximately 46.97 percent (30.2 million hectares) of the country's land area is covered by rangeland. These rangelands are particularly important in the central regions, specifically Bamyan province, as they serve as vital summer pastures for livestock. Rangeland covers about 86.3 percent of Bamyan's total land area of 1.5 million hectares, as stated in the Land Cover Atlas published by FAO in 2016.
The livelihood of farmers and herders who are facing poverty heavily relies on rainfed agriculture and rangelands. Unfortunately, these rangelands have been diminished due to a combination of human overuse and natural occurrences. A significant cause of rangeland degradation in Bamyan province is the excessive grazing of livestock and the collection of shrubs. Since no feasible alternative energy sources are available, most local residents are forced to uproot shrubs to use as fuelwood for cooking and heating living homes during the harsh winter, when temperatures can drop as low as -30°C.
With the generous support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a five-year initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has demonstrated the potential for restoring degraded rangelands by implementing community-driven approaches to sustainable land management. One of the key interventions implemented was the construction of Passive Solar Houses (PSH). The purpose of this intervention was to provide alternative livelihood to community people, decrease land degradation, and increase rangeland productivity.
As part of the project interventions, a total of 67 Passive Solar Houses (PSHs) were constructed in different Rangeland Management Associations (RMA) to tackle the issue of excessive shrub collection during the winter. A PSH is a wooden-framed structure positioned against the sun-facing wall of a house and covered with polyethylene sheets. It acts like a greenhouse, utilizing solar energy to warm the air inside the house throughout the day. The heated air circulates within the entire house, maintaining an indoor temperature warmer during cold nights.
“The Passive Solar House has had significant changes in my life, particularly my children's health improved by reducing cold-related illnesses. It has also provided my kids and neighboring children extra space to live and play. Moreover, it has created a warm environment for washing and drying clothes. Additionally, this winter, the use of Butta (uprooted shrub used as fuel wood) has significantly decreased. Previously, fires were made 5 to 7 times throughout the day, whereas now it is only made 2 to 3 times at night,” says, Bahman, a resident of the remote village “Kuchi Anda” located right below the cold-climate Baba Mountain.
The wife of the late Hussian Ali, who is the head of the household in Yakawlang district, has benefited from the Passive Solar House (PSH). She was sitting inside the PSH, engaged in traditional embroidery, while a group of girls studied nearby. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to FAO for providing this facility, which has created a pleasant gathering and studying place for the neighboring children during the colder months. Additionally, she has a small area within the PSH where she grows leafy vegetables during the off-season for her family's consumption.
FAO strives to assist rural communities by providing alternative livelihood options to earn a living, aiming to reduce the pressure on natural resources, especially rangelands in the central region. The PSH plays a role in this effort by providing additional space for families and children, resulting in a notable decrease in firewood usage. It offers a more environmentally friendly heating option than the conventional method of burning firewood, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and rangeland degradation.