Ebert Composites Corp. used NIST co-funding to develop snap-and-build composite transmission towers that last twice as long as steel. Photo courtesy Ebert Composites Corp.

Green building designs conserve energy and other resources, while outperforming designs that are less Earth friendly. NIST’s contributions to green design include the integration of heating and air conditioning controls with fire, security, energy management, and other systems.

NIST databases on refrigerant properties help manufacturers find alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons, which damage the environment. Other programs aim to lower emissions of global warming gases by providing performance data on solar energy panels and developing test methods to gauge heat flow through thermal insulation materials.