For the Tara Arctic 2007-2008 expedition, a scientific and human adventure, the polar schooner Tara has been changed into a drifting base, providing a place to live and work in the High Arctic for two years. Tara will essentially be a small isolated community, necessitating careful resource use and the ability to live within the boundaries of the surrounding environment. Despite extreme conditions, Tara’s crew strives to optimize resource use and limit waste. The eco-responsible behaviours of each person will be as much as possible in tune with the mission’s objectives;

Energy
During the whole year, energy needs will be provided by the electric generators on board Tara. These will be running between six and twelve hours per day according to energy demands. Energy production will be complemented by two wind turbines (3 kW each) placed on the ice around Tara. During the summer, the permanent sunlight will be a good extra source of energy thanks to the installation of a dozen solar panels (a total of 2,5 kW). The renewable energy sources can supply the basic needs of the base. During periods of peak consumption, for example when undertaking some scientific activities, the electric generators will provide for this peak demand.

Insulation
Tara was originally constructed with thick insulation to limit heat losses. The large windows in the saloon are covered with foil insulating material during the winter to provide further protection. In summer, these double glazed panels will capture the light and heat of the sun like a greenhouse, minimising the need for additional heating in the saloon during summer months when the outside temperature verges on 0°C.

Recycling and waste management
Waste management started well before the expedition left France, with the optimisation of packaging and in particular removal of all unnecessary plastics. During the drift, all waste will be sorted and disposed of in an appropriate manner. Glass, iron and organic waste will be disposed of in a hole that will be maintained in the pack ice. The small quantity of paper and cardboard packaging that remains will be burnt on site, creating a negligible impact. The other wastes (plastic and aluminium packaging etc.) will be compacted and stocked on board until the return of the boat in Europe. For toxic liquids, Tara has a tank that can stock two years worth of used oils. Medical wastes will be stocked in special locked containers on board.

For “black water” (toilet waste) toilets will be set up on the ice itself, next to Tara. Even to urinate, the crew, and later the visitors, will have to go to a specific place so that the environment surrounding the boat does not become contaminated, an important issue concerning freshwater production. Part of this organic waste will remain frozen in the ice, drifting to the Greenland Sea, eventually being released into these warmer waters and broken down by natural processes.

To offset the unavoidable greenhouse gases produced during the project we will be compensating this by the funding of a CO2 sequestering programme.

Lighting
Electricity consumption due to lighting during the polar night is potentially significant. Therefore, to minimise consumption most of the light bulbs in the less busy parts of the boat have been replaced by light emitting diodes, 100 times more economical than other technology. A large battery pack (2x1000 Ah) allows for the storage of energy when the generator is running (in particular during the daily use of the oceanographic sounding winch).

Water supply
The extreme northern part of the planet, in particular the Arctic sea ice, is a real polar desert. It rains only a few days per year (temperatures are above zero only from mid June until mid-August). Far from any civilization, but permanently inhabited, the scientific base must address the vital need of making water. Each day, the team must collect snow and ice for melting. While snow has a natural low salt content, care must be taken when selecting sea ice, multi-year ice producing the least saline water as more salt has been removed by percolation.

Water making is a labour and energy intensive activity, therefore optimising water consumption is a vital resource issue for the base.

Wildlife (flora and fauna)
Flora is inexistent in the Central Arctic Basin and terrestrial or avian fauna is scarce. The polar bear is the only species to present a real threat even if its presence in these high latitudes is very rare. The dogs presence should serve as an alarm and enable the crew to scare the bears away (using an alarm rifle, flare or fog horn) before they threaten the scientific equipment or material on the ice.

Constant attention
The choice of products and other materials used daily is an important issue, for example, the use of biodegradable washing liquid, soap and toilet paper. Turning off unessential lighting and switching off unused equipment is important to economise energy use. Constant management of the heating system requires particular attention because of the significant external temperature variations (gradients of more than 20°C are quite common).