The Montchauvel project has been developed as a showcase of energy self-sufficiency in a rural context.
It sets out a vision of future lifestyle, when domestic energy needs will be met by a combination of renewable energies managed by local communities themselves.
Lifestyle
Our lifestyle is based on the understanding that our body has been engineered through millions of years of natural evolution, in line with our planet’s own environmental evolution.
Therefore, we acknowledge that technological advances and behavioural changes should not alter our physiological balance nor disrupt our harmony with Nature.
We would like to share with you this simple philosophy based on two fundamental concepts:
– no fossil fuels: our guesthouse only relies on locally available renewable energies
– no unnecessary item: our lifestyle strictly follows a minimalist approach
The purpose of giving up fossil fuels altogether is to avoid our atmosphere shifting back to a Pre-Cambrian state, with CO2 levels unsuitable for our survival.
The essence of minimalism is to avoid wasting our planet’s limited resources, whilst helping our mind disconnect from the vacuity of materialism.
Ecotourism Offer
We offer a unique ecotourism experience, based on a distinctive lifestyle and the discovery of an authentic territory – Both being actually intimately intertwined.
Our focus is to understand and use locally available renewable energies – Our project actually showcases the sustainability of our modern way of life, through high-technology that harnesses energy sources available within a walking distance.
Therefore, we offer you the opportunity to manage your energy needs first-hand, by running the installation yourself and adapting your daily behaviour accordingly, without compromising on your comfort requirements.
In line with this energy self-reliance, you will experience a minimalist lifestyle whereby all unnecessary elements are removed from every aspect of your daily life – Be it accommodation, food, or entertainment.
To enhance this experience, we can facilitate visits to larger-scale renewable energy generation sites in the neighbourhood, together with cultural and recreational activities.
Heat from Biomass
A 14 kW wood-fired stove fitted with a water boiler provides the necessary heating in wintery conditions, when solar power is scarce:
– first, through direct convection and radiation in the main room,
– secondly, through the water boiler connected to the central heating system.
Additionally, the top steel plate on the stove allows cooking through conduction.
Solar Heating
4 x 2.2 m2 solar thermal panels are operational on the house rooftop.
The house central heating system is based on 2 x 800-litre hot water storage tanks.
These tanks are specifically designed to gather heat from both the solar thermal panels and the wood-fired water boiler.
They can also be heated up through heating elements as and when excess photovoltaic solar power is available.
They, in turn, can deliver heat to the central heating system, and supply hot tap water.
Assuming a 20ºC to 75ºC operating range, these tanks heat storage capacity roughly amounts to 100 kWh.
Electric Power Supply
Adequate electric power supply is delivered through 51 x 260 Wp solar photovoltaic panels mounted on the barn roof.
Peak power is therefore rated at 13.260 kW – At noon on a sunny summer day.
Whenever sunshine is scarce, power supply relies on 2 Li-ion batteries, capable of storing around 10 kWh altogether.
