NIST is in your refrigerator. It's also in your computer, toaster, couch, washing machine, electrical outlets, and medicine cabinet.

Almost every product in your home relies in some way on NIST's measurements or services. NIST provides the official U.S. rulers needed to measure the basic quantities of temperature, length, mass, electric current, time, light intensity, and chemical amounts. These are then used to measure volume, voltage, pressure, and other quantities needed to ensure the quality, performance, and safety of products.

Below are some examples of products in and near your home that rely on NIST:

	The Post Office uses optical scanners to sort mail. The first reading machine, a forerunner of today's optical scanners, was invented at NIST in 1954.
	The accuracy of every electricity meter in the country, including the ones measuring residential electrical consumption, is ultimately traceable to NIST.
	Flow meters-whether in power plants or in your home-are accurate due to NIST standards. Accurate flow rates mean we pay the correct amount for water.
	Lack of a national fire hose coupling standard used to keep fire fighters in neighboring towns from assisting each other. NIST helped select the national standard.
	NIST maintains national standards for lighting so manufacturers can accurately rate light output and energy efficiency of street lamps and all types of lighting.
	Sage Electrochromics and the 3M Co. won NIST co-funding to develop energy-saving smart windows that darken on bright days and stay clear on cloudy days.

Next

Contents:

Saving Lives Through Fire Safety

NIST in Your Refrigerator

More Inside Your Refrigerator

Bouncing Back from Earthquakes

NIST Wins an Emmy

More NIST in Your Home info on the NIST web site