Passiv NewenHouseLast year Wisconsin experienced one of its roughest winters in years, but Sonya Newenhouse and her family scarcely felt the affects in their German-certified passive house. While snow covered the ground and fierce winds whipped around the trees, this 970-square-foot home stayed warm using less energy than it requires to run a hair dryer! Despite exterior temperatures that hovered at 30 degrees below zero, interior temperatures averaged between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit - an extraordinary feat made possible by air-tight insulation, triple-paned windows and doors, and <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tag/passive-design/">strategic passive design</a>. Approximately 80 to 90 percent more efficient than the standard home, NewenHouses are exceptionally well-designed, and by the end of next year, they will most likely be available in three different sizes - all below 1,000 square feet. Inhabitat spent the night in Viroqua, where we enjoyed a nice warm shower despite a gray cloudy day and homemade scones filled with fresh raspberries from the <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tag/organic-garden/">organic garden</a>. Hit the jump for more information about the many facets of this home's superior performance, and flip through our gallery of images for a virtual tour.1
Passiv NewenHouseLarge windows bring copious amounts of natural light indoors2
Passiv NewenHouseA view into the kitchen and living area from the stairs3
Passiv NewenHouseThe master bedroom is rather small, but comes with a large walk-in closet4
Passiv NewenHouseThe guest bedroom5
Passiv NewenHouseSonya's son's bedroom6
Passiv NewenHouseThe beautiful tiles in the main bathroom were sourced locally and made with recycled materials7
Passiv NewenHouseSonya buzzes around her kitchen, which is also remarkably well-lit8
Passiv NewenHouseYes, that's a swing in the kitchen - so much fun and relaxing!9
Passiv NewenHouseNo energy escapes this ultra-efficient home!10
Passiv NewenHouseLooking from the kitchen out to the street11
Passiv NewenHouseEach NewenHouse will come with an edible landscape plan12
Passiv NewenHouseThe main entryway13
Passiv NewenHouseThe side of the home14
Passiv NewenHouseWe arrived at sunset, when the house was lit up like a lantern15
Passiv NewenHouseThe NewenHouse offers all kinds of innovative storage solutions.16
Passiv NewenHouseThe home is very transparent - eventually Sonya will add some elderberry trees that will offer privacy without interfering with solar gain17
Passiv NewenHouseNotice the stuga has plenty of windows too!18
Passiv NewenHouseA wood-fired stove heats up the stuga19
Passiv NewenHouseThe stuga offers a separate storage area that doesn't have to be heated all the time20
Passiv NewenHouseIn addition to its energy efficient fixtures, this home is a haven for those who are nervous about electromagnetic fields21
Passiv NewenHouseThe interior design is largely influenced by Sonya's Dutch & Finnish heritage22
Passiv NewenHouseSonya is also an excellent cook!23
Passiv NewenHouse
Last year Wisconsin experienced one of its roughest winters in years, but Sonya Newenhouse and her family scarcely felt the affects in their German-certified passive house. While snow covered the ground and fierce winds whipped around the trees, this 970-square-foot home stayed warm using less energy than it requires to run a hair dryer! Despite exterior temperatures that hovered at 30 degrees below zero, interior temperatures averaged between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit - an extraordinary feat made possible by air-tight insulation, triple-paned windows and doors, and strategic passive design. Approximately 80 to 90 percent more efficient than the standard home, NewenHouses are exceptionally well-designed, and by the end of next year, they will most likely be available in three different sizes - all below 1,000 square feet. Inhabitat spent the night in Viroqua, where we enjoyed a nice warm shower despite a gray cloudy day and homemade scones filled with fresh raspberries from the organic garden. Hit the jump for more information about the many facets of this home's superior performance, and flip through our gallery of images for a virtual tour.