"+ERS - Plus Energy Network Reininghaus Sud" is an integrative part of the Building of Tomorrow research flagship project "Energy City Graz-Reininghaus (ECR), which is an important part of the greater urban development framework of the City of Graz. The +ERS research project is carried out by AEE - Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) (scientific project management), "Aktiv Klimahaus SW GmbH" (real estate developer), Nussmuller Architekten ZT GmbH, and the Institute of Urbanism (Graz University of Technology). A combination of energy efficiency measures, energy production on site and energy exchange between the buildings will establish a plus energy housing estate. This paper highlights the main technical measures and strategies required to achieve plus energy standard for the housing district and discusses problems and hurdles of its actual realization. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.