Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Buildings Program

The objective of the Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Buildings Program is to develop and deploy advances in measurement science to move the nation toward net-zero energy, high-performance buildings while maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Buildings account for 41 % of the primary energy consumption and 74 % of the electricity consumption in the United States, while accounting for 40 % of the CO₂ emissions.  To minimize the costs associated with building energy consumption, NIST will develop and deploy the measurement science to move the nation towards net-zero energy, high-performance buildings in a cost-effective manner while maintaining a healthy indoor environment.  The research program will target the objective of net-zero operation by 1) reducing heating and cooling loads within the building, 2) developing measurement science for efficient heating and cooling equipment, 3) advancing the measurements of onsite energy generation technologies such as photovoltaics and micro-cogeneration, 4) evaluating the energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, economics, and sustainability from a whole-building perspective, and 5) aggressively promoting implementation of program results in building energy codes, standards, and practices.  

The program supports the measurement science needs identified by the NSTC Subcommittee on Buildings Technology Research and Development, specifically in the areas of performance metric integration, product and material life cycle assessment, and indoor environmental quality.  The work carried out in this program aligns with the EL mission by promoting U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by anticipating and meeting the measurement science and standards needs to “Support American Leadership in Clean Energy” and “Reduce Building Energy Use” as identified by OMB and OSTP as priorities for FY2013.  The research builds upon EL’s core competency in energy-efficient and intelligent operation of buildings with healthy indoor environments.  The research also supports EL’s strategic goal of Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Manufacturing, Materials, and Infrastructure, specifically by enabling energy-efficient buildings.  NIST’s combination of technical expertise in building energy use, combustion, indoor air quality, building materials, and building economics creates a unique team that can address the interconnected issues that affect the evaluation of high-performance buildings. 

Some recent accomplishments for the Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Buildings Program include:

• NIST completed design and construction of Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility
• Held workshop and completed roadmap entitled “Measurement Science Roadmap for Net-Zero Energy Buildings. The Workshop Summary Report is available at http://www.energetics.com/news/Documents/NetZeroEnergyBuildings.pdf
• Online version of the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability software for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products.  Available at http://www.nist.gov/el/economics/BEESSoftware.cfm
• Published online Climate Suitability Tool to help building designers identify opportunities for using natural or hybrid ventilation to reduce energy consumption in buildings.  Available at http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/IAQanalysis/software/CSTdesc.htm
• Published online software, LoopDA, for building designers to size openings for natural ventilation.  Available at http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/IAQanalysis/software/LOOPDAdesc.htm
• Developed online software tool, EVAP-COND/ISHED, that simulates and optimizes the performance of finned-tube heat exchangers.  Available at http://www.nist.gov/el/building_environment/evapcond_software.cfm
• Constructed new test facilities, including:  product emissions testing chamber, photovoltaic spectral response laboratory, mini-breadboard heat pump,  chiller evaluation rig
• Worked with leading architects and engineers to develop R&D plan for sustainability tool as documented in report: “Industry Needs Workshop: Metrics and Tools for Sustainable Buildings: Summary Report” Available at http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=907857