I've been interessted in this subject for quite a while, eventhough I am by far not in the position to become a homeowner myself. But the idea to have a home that uses almost no outside energy and is still cosy and warm is just cool.

In recent years low-energy-standard houses became more known and popular in Germany. But still many interessted people turn to the common designs, due to worries over extra building costs, the wish for big space and the sometimes too innovative design.

Now there is the ultra-low energy buildings (Passivhaus) standart in Germany.
It descripes buildings with a total primary energy consumption (primary energy for heating, hot water and electricity) of less than 120 kWh/m² per year (3.79 × 104 btu/ft² per year).

Recently I found this building that is constructed into the ground. Well not really into the ground, but it's covered with soil.
From the outside it looks kind of an WWII bunker but interior pictures reveal an open and bright living space.
The feature that is really innovative is not the looks from outside or the extreme energy efficency (it is said to be possible to heat it with a few candles in winter times)... its the fact that it is as cheap as a normal building (at least in germany) with 10% of the running cost.

The project is from 2006/07 and there are only 4 rather small 3 room houses till today. But I find the potential rather great. And using your roof as a garden is a bonus


Pictures:
Entrance
Livingroom
Front(South-side)

If everyone builds such houses, it sure would look like there are Hobbits everywhere... but at least it would be hobbits having more money in their wallets... and perhaps doing a good thing for the enviroment at the same time.

If you believe in man made global warming or not is not important in this thread...
Almost everyone on the world can see that electricity, gas or oil (or simply energy) is getting more expensive.

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That is really cool. Right now we live in a highly inefficient house, but on the other hand we don't use any electricity or oil to heat it...

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Of course if you heat with wood you are in a certain way good for the enviroment, but even wood is getting more expensive. :-(

And not to forget that well isolated also reduces air conditioning cost
No heat goes out no heat comes in...

To give abit more data:
- the house has a 20 cm isolation to the ground, 30cm at the walls and 40 cm to the roof (+ isolation from the soil around and on it).
- very simplistic building services & maintenance(???) it only needs a ventilation system, a flow heater and a solar heater.
- very simple construction ( no crane needed,...)

I will try to visit the house when I am in the area where it's build next time I am around. Since it's winter it's a good time to test if it's really that cosy & warm in there

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It's not expensive if you find it on your own land.

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Well that's true.
In that case you should check out that system that makes your car run on wood-gas (no kidding)

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I'm looking into buying a home in a year or so. I'm interested in insulated concrete form (ICF) construction, and geothermal for heating and cooling. Payback on this technology takes a while, but it looks like energy costs are going nowhere but up.

Geothermal energy is a nice idea... put in a little electricity and you get 3 times the heating energy
My parents installed a solar thermal collector and it works well even in germany(not exactly known for the sunny weather ) In summertimes you even got hot running water in the morning In winter times it needs to be alittle suported though... but it still saves some energy.

The PassivHaus standard takes it to a higher level though, the idea is, that a heating system becomes almost unneccessary. That means that the heat from the human body, cooking and electronic devices... keeps the house warm.

Could you tell me abit about where you live (are there cold winters,...) and what the typical houses look like in your area?
I am afraid my sterotype of american houses are a wooden frame with plasterboard walls and an open fireplace in the living room... with the focus on size and exterior looks.

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