The first example was down to sheer incompetence and failed integration. If your heating is on too much, then the building will try and dump the heat.

Good green building design isn't entirely rocket science. The biggest cost in terms of energy is heating and cooling. Depending on your location the sun is either your enemy most of the time, or only for a few months.

Either way, you need good thermal mass, low U walls, low U windows and air control This will get you 90% of the way to low energy, the last 10-20% is a lot harder to get.