def calculate_bv_sum(site, nn_list, scale_factor=1.0):
    """
    Calculates the BV sum of a site.

    Args:
        site:
            The site
        nn_list:
            List of nearest neighbors in the format [(nn_site, dist), ...].
        scale_factor:
            A scale factor to be applied. This is useful for scaling distance,
            esp in the case of calculation-relaxed structures which may tend
            to under (GGA) or over bind (LDA).
    """
    el1 = Element(site.specie.symbol)
    bvsum = 0
    for (nn, dist) in nn_list:
        el2 = Element(nn.specie.symbol)
        if (el1 in ELECTRONEG or el2 in ELECTRONEG) and el1 != el2:
            r1 = BV_PARAMS[el1]["r"]
            r2 = BV_PARAMS[el2]["r"]
            c1 = BV_PARAMS[el1]["c"]
            c2 = BV_PARAMS[el2]["c"]
            R = r1 + r2 - r1 * r2 * (sqrt(c1) - sqrt(c2)) ** 2 / \
                (c1 * r1 + c2 * r2)
            vij = exp((R - dist * scale_factor) / 0.31)
            bvsum += vij * (1 if el1.X < el2.X else -1)
    return bvsum