Contents

1 - Audemars Piguet: expansion and improvements in Le Brassus
2 - Designing the first Minergie-ECO® production unit
3 - Minergie-ECO®: the requirements of the new label
4 - A wood-fired heating system
5 - Telecommunications: playing it safe
6 - Revitalisation and reforestation of the Brassus stream area
7 - A welcoming entrance to the village
8 - High and medium voltage: the end of overhead electrical lines

Minergie-ECO®: the requirements of the new Swiss label

“Minergie-ECO® is a complement to the MINERGIE® standards. While characteristics such as comfort and energy efficiency are inherent to Minergie® buildings, Minergie-ECO®-certified buildings also comply with special requirements regarding environmentally-friendly construction methods. Rigorous construction standards in accordance with MINERGIE®, respectively Minergie-P®, constitute the prerequisite for any Minergie-ECO® certification.” (www.minergie.ch).
From the eventual demolition of existing buildings to the construction of a new building, each step and all of the materials chosen for the project must comply with the detailed list of criteria put forth in a vast set of documents. Initially drawn up as guidelines for homes and administrative buildings, this label is, for the first time ever, applied to an industrial building in accordance with Audemars Piguet’s own request. The project was entrusted to the town planning and design specialists Dolci Architectes Ltd.

Minergie requirements
To meet the stringent performance requirements, it was first necessary to look at the building’s exterior, the quality and thickness of the insulation materials (24cm for the outer walls and 20cm for the roof), as well as all the construction details since they are often the source of excessive energy consumption (commonly known as thermal bridges).
To obtain the Minergie label, the choice of heating is key since its environmental impact is taken into consideration. In this respect, Audemars Piguet had two options: a heat pump or wood-fired heating.
After studying all of the Audemars Piguet buildings in Le Brassus, the decision was made to use a wood-fired heating system and a remote heating network. Having developed genuine synergy with the local community, the heating system was ultimately designed to supply heat to the public as well as private buildings via the network.

Watchmaking requirements
The manufacturing of precision timepieces calls for consistent temperatures to be maintained throughout certain production stages. Therefore, a cooling system was developed using ice cold water. The weather in the Joux valley lending itself particularly well to “free-cooling”, the majority of the energy needed could come from the outside air. A high-output ice water production group will provide the additional supplies to meet the building’s needs.
Only the production facilities will need air-conditioning, along with a few specific activities such as quality control and certain conference rooms. To ensure maximum overall comfort for the watchmaking activities, the temperatures will be regulated using radiant ceiling panels. This type of installation allows for effective heating and cooling without the need for air flow.
Finally, a ventilation system guaranteeing humidity control completes the plan. This way of handling air, a particularly important aspect of watchmaking, was tested in a laboratory and ensures the absence of draughts in the work areas. All of the building’s air control systems are hooked up to a central system that guarantees optimal functioning and rigorous energy management.

ECO requirements
The project naturally gravitated toward the use of products with the most neutral ecological impact possible and fits with the following list of objectives: the use of vastly available raw materials and a considerable amount of recycled materials; the use of construction materials that have little environmental impact during their production and implementation; the use of recyclable materials as much as possible, as well as those which can be destroyed with minimal environmental impact. Above all, this approach aims to respect the environment and the quality of life of the people working at the Manufacture des Forges.
The constraints linked to the use of materials that meet the ECO requirements were clearly understood from the very beginning of this project. The choices were translated as follows: a metal and reinforced cement structure; fibrocement slabs for the outside; natural Elox aluminium windows; solvent-free epoxy resin flooring; FSC certified wood parquet; water-based paint for the walls.