It’s now more than ten years since the André Clouet production site came into being on the outskirts of Bouzy. Extensive expansion work has now been undertaken to welcome the public to this site, which offers an exceptional panoramic view over the various parcels of Champagne’s greatest Grands Crus Classés. The new extension will include a cellar, boutique, restaurant, reception room and new offices. With a view to sustainable development and respect for the environment, the reduction of energy consumption is at the heart of the building’s conception.
The work will include the installation of various renewable energy production systems: solar panels to supply the entire building with electricity, a rainwater recovery system, and a earth-to-air heat exchanger to regulate indoor temperature.
Earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHX)
The earth-to-air heat exchanger is based on a concept that originated in the Roman Empire. It consists of a network of buried pipes that function as an air-to-soil heat exchanger. Buried at a depth of around 2 meters, the network takes advantage of the thermal inertia of the earth mass surrounding the pipes, enabling the climatic well to act as a natural temperature regulator. Combined with ventilation equipment, it distributes comfortable and temperate air throughout the building.
The André Clouet worksite is the largest in the Champagne region to install a heat exchanger. It will be able to cool 14,000 cubic meters in summer and heat them in winter. By way of comparison, a house usually represents 300 to 400 cubic meters.
