Gorgeous Energy Neutral Townhouse in Amsterdam

Who says you can't make an urban dwelling <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/15/san-franciscos-solar-mission-house-is-a-high-tech-marvel/" target="_blank">net zero</a> and incredibly beautiful to boot? The Energy Neutral House 2.0 by Netherlands-based <a href="http://www.faro-architecten.nl/" target="_blank">FARO Architecten</a> is a single-family residence in Ijburg, near Amsterdam, that comes complete with its own tree inside. Thanks to a combination of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/16/sonnenschiff-solar-city-produces-4x-the-energy-it-needs/" target="_blank">passivhaus</a> design with super-tight insulation, triple paned windows, and heat exchangers, the house uses very little energy - which is supplied via a roof mounted small-scale wind turbine and a photovoltaic system.

The home's beautiful interior is decorated with wood and features a large tree trunk that is used to help support one of the floors.

The exterior of the home features wood that has been specially treated using a traditional Japanese technique. Charring the wood preserves it without the need for any paint or stain.

Solar hot water heaters are mounted on the cornices of the building's roof to provide hot water and space heating.

Designed to passivhaus standards, the town house has incredible insulation, triple glazing, and utilizes heat exchangers to pre-heat and pre-cool the air.

Solar passive design was utilized to keep the home from overheating. The windows are inset from the facade to provide shading.

During the summer flaps on the roof can be opened to allow hot air to escape up and out of the house.

Energy for the home is provided via a rooftop wind turbine and a photovoltaic system. Any additional heat needed during the winter is provided by a wood pellet stove.

Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored in a cistern under the garden, which provides water for the toilets and laundry.

The net zero home features a number of strategies to lower its energy demand and provide for the remaining demand via renewable energy.

The four story home includes a kitchen and dining on the first floor, living area on the second, two bedrooms on the third, and a master bedroom on the fourth.