Hi Arnita Using colours three years ago was agood choice. The apartment is friendly even on a cloudy day.

i lik ethe color combination, the red yellow orange white. Warm but still clean.

gorgeous place!

The glass block wall is absolutely terrific. J'adore!

The MINERGIE standard is unfortunately still not commen even the additional building cost for such a house are less than 5%. Most people think that you are not allowed to open the windows...! The more strict MINERGIE-P standard has additional cost of about 15% and requieres alternative heating technology like solar. Additionally all electric equipment has to be to the best standard.

Hi benmoore The MINERGIE standard demands a heating energie consumption of lower than 42 kWh/sqm/year. In our house this is done with an insulation of 20 cm (2/3 foot) and a controlled ventilation with heat exchanger (about 80 % efficiency). Most energy is gained by passive solar energy in winter (shaded in summer). The rest is gained with a groundwater heat pump. The more strict MINERGIE-P standard is only one third of our house which is about 20% of a standard house to the Swiss building regulations.

ZOMG!!  Annual heating costs under $160?!  Do you have tips for how that was done?