Northern Virginia Gets Its First Net Positive Energy Home

SPRINGFIELD, Va. - Oct. 4, 2014 - PRLog -- The new NOVA e+ Home (http://www.nova-eplus-home.com) in Springfield is claiming the title of Northern Virginia’s first net positive energy residence, raising the bar on energy conservation -- currently set at net zero -- and redefining the meaning of green living.

What Is a Net Positive Energy Home?

Net zero is the current formidable energy threshold of green construction. The overall energy usage of a net zero building, over the course of a year, is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site. Net positive energy construction, on the other hand, means that the NOVA e+ Home will generate several times more overall energy annually than it consumes.

The first key factor in the home’s ability to achieve this nearly impossible goal is extreme energy conservation, which the home boasts in great measure. The second key factor is extreme energy generation, which is achieved with a large solar panel array hidden on its rooftop. The architecture of the residence is fairly traditional, which is not typical of an extremely green home, which tend to have very modern look to them.

Which Certifications Will the NOVA e+ Home Aspire to Attain?

Since net positive energy is such a new concept, no official certification exists yet. However, the residence will easily earn the latest U.S. EPA Energy Star certification, and is expected to obtain additional green building certifications that will validate its extreme green measures. More challenging is the USGBC LEED for Homes certification, but the NOVA e+ Home is on track to obtain LEED Platinum status. The final (and most difficult) level the homeowners hope to achieve is US Passive House certification, which only a little more than 100 homes in the US possess.

The NOVA e+ Home website (http://www.nova-eplus-home.com) showcases the innovative design and technologies that went into the construction of this unique residence and the designers and contractors that were involved. The website also contains a construction photo gallery that lets website visitors see exactly how the home was built from the ground up. Photos of the finished residence will not appear on the website to protect the privacy of the homeowners and their neighbors.

The owners of this Springfield, Virginia residence will reap the benefits of creating one of the most eco-friendly structures in existence. They’ll actually be paid for the over 12 megawatts of excess electricity generated by their home per year.