Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Setting sun background of purples and pinks with power towers and lines

Energy

Overview

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.

Featured Content

Smart Grid program

Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility

Energy Topics

Alternative energy

Conventional energy

Electric power / smart grid

Fuels

The Research

Projects & Programs

Measuring the Performance of Net-Zero Energy Homes

Completed

A Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF) has been constructed and extensively instrumented. The facility incorporates a high-performance envelope, a

Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties Database (REFPROP)

Ongoing

The NIST REFPROP database provides the most accurate thermophysical property models for a variety of industrially important fluids and fluid mixtures, including

Standard Reference Measurements

Ongoing

Property measurements of the very highest accuracies are important for developing the thermodynamic and transport property models for working fluids and

View All Projects/Programs

Additional Resources Links

Publications

Software

black box that looks like an old VCR tape. Clear space in middle. Blue square in middle of clear space.

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.

Learn more

News

photo of a house. Solar panels on the roof.

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

In Journal Publication, NIST Staff Emphasizes Need for Greater Grid Interoperability

NIST Researcher Helps Industry with Testing Interoperability between Grid and Renewables

Maria Munoz poses in the lab, wearing safety goggles and heavy gloves.