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Energy

NIST develops the testing, measurements, and reference materials needed to ensure the quality of energy-related products and services and ensure fairness in the marketplace.

The Research

Projects & Programs

Drawing of NIST Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility.

Measuring the Performance of Net-Zero Energy Homes

Completed
Objective: Develop the measurement science necessary to evaluate various technological approaches to achieve net-zero energy residential buildings, including innovative monitoring techniques, methods of test, performance metrics and high quality experimental data for the validation and improvement
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Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties Database (REFPROP)

Ongoing
REFPROP is a computer program, distributed through the Standard Reference Data program of NIST, that provides thermophysical properties of pure fluids and mixtures over a wide range of fluid conditions including liquid, gas, and supercritical phases. It contains critically evaluated mathematical
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Standard Reference Measurements

Ongoing
State-of-the art property measurements have been the hallmark of the Fluid Properties Group for more than four decades. Many of these measurements have been carried out on one-of-a-kind instruments developed at NIST. In some cases the older instruments are still among the very best of their kind
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Additional Resources Links

Publications
Software
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NIST Calibrations for Reference PV Cells

Reference solar cells are devices used for characterizing and calibrating light sources and other solar devices. Their performance hinges on their ability to consistently measure specific types of light with high accuracy. A new NIST calibration service, the quality of which is reinforced by traceability to SI units, can help ensure that reference cells provide accurate readings under a variety of scenarios, such as outdoors, indoors or in space.

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News

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That House on the Hill: Bringing Measurement Science Home

When people ask NIST employees what they do, we often rely on the somewhat nebulous term “measurement science.” To many in the technical community, NIST’s role in measurement science is clear because they are often surrounded by instruments that bear some sort of NIST-traceable calibration certificate. NIST staff may be able to explain the painstaking work we do to realize basic measurement units
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A newly built two-story home with an attached garage has solar panels on the roof.

A House Ahead of Its Time

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NIST Awards $15 Million to ASTM International to Establish Standardization Center of Excellence

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Smart New Laser Technology Can Monitor Greenhouse Gases Faster, More Sensitively

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