Switched on: a Swiss apartment with its own hydro plant

Once part of a paper mill, this flat on the banks of Lake Zug has turned over a new leafIt all started with paper. In 1657, when many people could neither read nor write, the foundations for the Papieri area, on the shores of Lake Zug in Cham, Switzerland, were laid. This first paper mill became a huge paper factory, which operated for 360 years until it was closed down in 2015 and the remaining Papieri buildings were classified as historical monuments. Now a bustling new quarter with apartments, lofts, studios and workplaces has been created.The Papieri site has been designed to be fully energy-efficient, climate-neutral and sustainable. All power for the site comes from renewable sources. An estimated 40% of its electricity needs is produced onsite using photovoltaic systems and its own hydro power plant on the nearby river. It has a site-wide linked energy network, which provides heating, cooling and electricity directly to each property. Continue reading...