Britt and Per Gate have lived in a straw-bale house at Ihre farm in the north of Gotland since 2004. They started to build their house on their own in 1997 after they had experimentally raised a smaller building the previous year. The new house, which is approximately 120m2, has a roof to the north that reaches to the ground and a 5-metre high wall with dominating window sections facing south. This will ensure as efficient energy usage as possible and a bright, airy living environment.

The straw used as insulation in the floor, walls and roof comes from their own farm. Beneath the Gotlandic stone floor they have water-carried floor heating. A water-jacket wood stove and solar collectors on the roof supply the heat for hot tap water and floor heating. The system can also be run on electricity when necessary. Energy consumption is estimated to 10 000 kWh/year.