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- 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="http://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="http://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