Sustainability Performance of the NIST Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility Relative to a Maryland Code Compliant Design

Published

March 30, 2015

Author(s)

Joshua D. Kneifel, Eric G. O'Rear

Abstract

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to construct a Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF). The initial goal of the NZERTF is to demonstrate that a net-zero energy residential design can “look and feel” like a typical home in the Gaithersburg area. The purpose of this report is to compare the sustainability performance including energy, economic, and environmental metrics, of the NZERTF design to a comparable Maryland code-compliant building design using whole building energy simulations, life-cycle costing, and life-cycle assessment.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1187

Report Number

1187

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1187

Keywords

BIRDS, energy efficiency, net-zero energy, residential buildings, sustainability, whole building energy simulation

Citation

Kneifel, J. and O'Rear, E. (2015), Sustainability Performance of the NIST Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility Relative to a Maryland Code Compliant Design, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1187 (Accessed October 10, 2025)