30 All-Black Exterior Modern Homes - Photo 3 of 30 - Since Copenhagen is generally cold, the house was painted black to trap warmth. The result was that in its first year, it consumed so little energy that the client received a generous refund from the heating company. &quot;Many wooden houses in Scandinavia use this trick,&quot; Larsen says. &quot;On sunny days it even radiates warmth, so that in spring and autumn you can sit outside by the wall and in this way extend the outdoor season by a few weeks every year. These weeks are valuable in places with little light.&quot;