BOSTON, MA,- March 11, 2009-The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) presented a $10,000 cash award to the owners of a Charlotte, Vermont residence for achieving 12 months of zero net energy use and winning NESEA's Zero Net Energy Building Award. The award was presented at NESEA's BuildingEnergy09 annual conference and trade show for renewable energy and green building professionals.

Immediately prior to the award presentation, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles, announced the findings and recommendations of Governor Patrick's Zero Net Energy Task Force, a Task Force whose formation the Governor announced at last year's Building Energy conference.

"This was truly a special day for all of us who are so deeply committed to reducing our energy use, and with that, our carbon emissions," said NESEA Executive Director David Barclay. "We are indeed fortunate to have a Governor in Massachusetts who understands the need for buildings that require less energy and it is absolutely exciting to recognize a building that can document 12 months of zero energy use."

Winning the award were David Pill and Hillary Maharam of Charlotte, VT. Their 2,800 square foot, single family residence houses a family of four and over the 12 months from January 2008 to January 2009 actually exported 16kWh of electricity into the grid.

Pill and Maharam designed the house, built over a 12-month period from September 2006 to August 2007. The energy consultant was Andrew Shapiro of Energy Balance. A Bergey 10kW wind turbine generated energy on site, producing 6,286 kWh over the course of the year. The house featured super insulated passive solar design, thermal bridge mitigation, an air sealed envelope, high efficiency windows, and a ground source heat pump, as well as lighting and appliances with the highest efficiency ratings and a polished concrete slab for thermal mass with hydronic tubing.

"I am truly honored and excited about this award," said Pill. "When we heard about the contest, my whole family wanted to go for it. As the driver of any hybrid car knows, it's not just about the vehicle, it's also about the way you drive. We built our house with energy use in mind, but we also modified our behavior with the goal of net zero energy use. We still live a conventional lifestyle with little sacrifice but we have modified our behavior. I know not everyone can have a house like ours, but I hope others will see the benefits of modifying their behavior to reduce their energy use. If we can do it in northern Vermont then I think it's clear that it can be done.

"I want to thank NESEA for issuing the challenge and for setting the bar high so that this challenge would be meaningful. I also want to thank NESEA for educating me over the last 18 years. They are an amazing resource."

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) advances the practical application and adoption of sustainable and low-carbon energy practices in the Northeast United States. NESEA accomplishes this through a number of ongoing programs and annual events including: the Building Energy Conference and Trade Show, professional education workshops, K-12 Education programs, the Green Buildings Open House Tour, and the Sustainable Green Pages, a Directory of energy professional in the Northeast.

For more information and to pre-register for BuildingEnergy09 -- "Real Solutions, Real Experts" please visit www.buildingenergy.nesea.org or call 413-774-6051.

www.BuildingEnergy.nesea.org
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is the Northeast’s leading organization of professionals working in sustainable energy, whole systems thinking and green technologies. NESEA facilitates the widespread adoption and use of sustainable energy by providing support to industry professionals and by educating and motivating consumers to learn about, ask for, and adopt sustainable energy
and green building practices.

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)

About NESEA

NESEA is the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (www.NESEA.org), Founded in 1974, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is today the region’s leading membership organization promoting sustainable energy practices in the built environment. We as professionals in the fields of renewable energy and building embrace whole systems thinking as the path to sustainability, and we accomplish this by focusing on three core elements:

• Creating and supporting a diverse, multidisciplinary network
• Promoting sustainable energy solutions for the built environment
• Rigorously vetting solutions through our network of professionals - no greenwashing here.

Headquartered in Greenfield, MA, NESEA operates primarily in the six New England states plus New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, but we increasingly reach out to share ideas nationally and internationally.

About BuildingEnergy

BuildingEnergy is NESEA's annual building science and renewable energy conference and trade show. Held in Boston annually in March, BuildingEnergy is the is the most established, most cross-disciplinary renewable energy and high-performance building conference and trade show in the northeast. It attracts professionals from every part of the building and energy industry.

Learn more about this year's exciting BuildingEnergy line-up at www.nesea.org/buildingenergy

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