Lightweight 'triple-zero' house produces more energy than it uses

[HAL 9000 96]

z0mg HAL???? a Twitard?

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell no. Its baiting Len over to the energy/conservation/GW grand debate.

[SMR 368]

He who lives in glass house must wear clothes.

...or be very comfortable in his own hide.

Or invest in curtains.

But seriously, the price is not bad for German standards. And yes, of course it's just the house, but the land isn't included in the "conventional" houses either.

Ask anybody who has been building there in the last 5-10 years, you don't get a house for under 250,000 EUR, even the smallest, most standard one.

So it's not like it's three times as expensive... or in other words, money isn't a valid excuse.

I don't know what things cost in Germany, but in parts of America where land property values are low, a 2000 square foot house can be found for under $100,000 with the land. Granted its not new and it's not in NYC. But I think that's a valid excuse for someone who is looking for a house. Unless $150k+ isn't important to you.

[GabiandVi 34]

Housing is generally more expensive in Europe, so if the price for such a house were comparably less expensive to build in the US, then it would be worth it, except for all the glass. It looks very good in magazines, but who can actually live with the whole world able to watch you? Never mind having to wear clothes all the time. Your house would have to be in perfect order at all times. And I can only imagine a minimalist design working in that sort of structure. Again, it is beautiful in the pictures, but it doesn't looked lived in because almost nobody actually lives like that.

And then there is the sunshine. I don't know about Germany, but even on the coldest days in winter my parents have to let down all their blinds on their southern exposures (the lakeside exposures) or turn the AC way low. And they have solar efficient windows. Of course, they also have geothermal engergy, so the AC is cheap to run, especially in the winter when the lake waters are cooler.