Silvervillan is a Low-Impact & Low-Energy Home in Sweden

<a href="http://www.sjobergtherme.se/?q=silvervillan" target="_blank">Silvervillan</a> is a sustainable family home located in an environmentally conscious area of Sweden dedicated to local organic farming. Designed by <a href="http://www.sjobergtherme.se/" target="_blank">Sjöberg &amp; Thermé</a>, the home features a high-performance envelope that minimizes heat loss. The house remains comfortable through the heat of the summer and the depths of winter without incurring high energy bills - read on for a closer look!

Silvervillan is located in Skilleby, Järna, Sweden, which is considered very eco friendly because of organic farming, local production of bread, cheese, fruit juices, cultural activities, and a nearby <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthroposophy" target="_blank">anthroposophical</a> center.

Because of this, the owners also wanted to ensure that their home was low impact.

<a href="http://www.sjobergtherme.se/" target="_blank">Sjöberg &amp; Thermé</a> designed and built a home with a high performance envelope that would minimize heat loss and heat gain.

The house is built with 2 separate construction frames for the walls with 45 cm cellulose insulation and with 60 cm insulation in the ceiling/roof, which gives it a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-value#U-value" target="_blank">U-value</a> under 0.1.

The home features an open floor plan living/dining/kitchen area on the ground floor with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. The upstairs loft has a play room and another living room.

Natural daylighting makes the home open and bright while the ventilation system is designed for those with asthma and allergies.

A solar hot water heating system on the south side of the house provides domestic hot water.

With the tight envelope and energy efficient systems inside, the house only uses 6,500 kWh/yr.

Compare this figure to the US average of <a href="http://205.254.135.7/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&amp;t=3" target="_blank">11,496 kWh/yr</a> and you can understand the savings.

Silvervillan is 179 sq meters and was completed in 2011.