The city of Neuchâtel is located by a lake, which is already exploited to satisfy the cooling needs of several users (hotels, tobacco industry). Along the shores, you find also accumulations of aquifer gravel (moraines, deltas), which are the main site of an underground layer and which are used for cooling reasons (Laténium, Hotel Palafitte, CPLN, NHP).

A study aims to show that within Neuchâtel’s topographical, hydrological and geological context, it is technically and economically possible, to provide cold in summer and partial warmth in winter to supply heat pumps. The combination of various cold resources (underground layer, lake) is one of the original aspects proposed by the study.

The study will begin with a survey of selected potential customers (industries, research centres, banks, supermarkets, craft industries, etc.) in order to understand their current and ideal needs.

The survey is led by the company Bernard Matthey Ingénieurs-Conseils SA in Montezillon (canton of Neuchâtel) in collaboration with the City of Neuchâtel, the cantonal energy service and the company Bruggruhsysteme. The project has been financed by the Federal Energy Department.

If you live in Neuchâtel and if you use cooling techniques or air-conditioning systems, the questionnaire below concerns you. You can participate on the survey. Your contribution is crucial in order to correctly target needs and evaluate the potential of the use of cooling supplied by natural resources. We thank you very much in advance for your interest and for the few minutes you take to fill in the form.
Document [616.47Ko]



Situation as of July 2006

Freecooling in an urban environment. Facing up to needs and resources in Neuchâtel town.

Brenet, Building and renewable energies network of technology, 14.
Schweizerisches Status-Seminar, 7.-8. sept 2006, ETHZ, p 195-202