During summer 2010, the entire Berghotel Muottas Muragl was completely renovated. Particular focus was placed on the aspect of environmental-friendliness, giving rise to the first plus-energy hotel in the Alps.
Besides constructing the building according to the principles and requirements of the Swiss “Minergie” ecological label, this project went one step further. Although the surface area of the building was extended from 1,700 sq. metres to 2,700 sq. metres, despite the 50% increase in size, it was possible to reduce the energy consumption by 64%, from 436,000 kWh/a to 157,400 kWh/a. This was achieved by insulating the building in line with the latest standards and by generating renewable energy from five different sources.
Hot water is obtained by means of solar energy produced by the 60 sq. metres of pipe solar collectors installed in the glass window panes in the basement. Sixteen thermal loops with an average length of 200 metres, making 3,200 metres in total, supply the entire building with geothermal energy. In addition, all the necessary electricity is generated by the most efficient photovoltaic system in Switzerland, extending 228 metres along the railway line. Any excess of solar energy is stored in the ground via the thermal loops, thus regenerating the geothermal mass. The recovery of the waste heat from the cooling units, exhaust air and the machine room are further measures to transform the new building into a sustainable and environmentally-friendly enterprise that, taken over the entire year, even produces more energy than it actually needs.
With this ground-breaking energy concept, the Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl was awarded the Swiss Solar Award 2011 and the PlusEnergieBau® (PEB) Solar Award 2011.
[caption id="attachment_221105" align="aligncenter" width="443"] Selbstporträt mit Hut (1909) by August Macke[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]August Robert Ludwig Macke was a German Expressionist painter. He was one of the leading members of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). He lived during a particularly innovative time for German art: he saw the development of the main German Expressionist movements as well as the arrival of the successive avant-garde movements which were forming in the rest of Europ...
[caption id="attachment_152885" align="aligncenter" width="590"] The flag of The Council of Europe and The European Union[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Not only this year, but especially this year, it's time to celebrate the 20th Anniverary of the European Union. The more the better ;-)
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), forme...