India, March 21 -- The cold desert region of Ladakh is characterised by harsh winters, minimal rainfall, and sparse vegetation. For centuries, the region's remote location and lack of resources prompted residents to adapt ingeniously to the environment, optimising the limited available resources for sustenance. This led to development of many practices, techniques and innovations that are unique to the region and intrinsically embedded into fabric of the local culture.

Traditional Ladakhi architecture is a prime example of this adaptation, using passive solar heating to combat the severe cold. As the region evolved and gained access to grid-based electricity, energy consumption increased, sidelining traditional, climate-appropriate solut...