Two things I really like about this off-grid house in Alberta: First, it's setting a good example in a suburban area, where it counts the most; and second, the fridge is next to a cold closet vented to the outdoors, which allows the fridge to be turned off in winter. This article outlines the principles of low-energy house design, without the technical detail. It's ten years old, but still a good overview.
Update on 27 February 2007: And in a completely different climate, there's a cob house in Cape Town that's being built right now, encompassing a range of sustainable design features. And it's urban. Yeah!
