What is the ideal combination of building science techniques, design features, and products to build a mainstream net-zero house? The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) aims to find out.
Under construction on the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Md., the Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility — a two-story, 2,700-square-foot home — will provide researchers the opportunity to “develop and demonstrate the measurement science needed to achieve net-zero-energy homes.”
In addition to showcasing the viability of net-zero building, the house will serve as a living laboratory by simulating (via robotics and a control room in the detached garage) the lifestyle of a typical family of four. The ongoing, real-world field data could help move a broader swath of the country closer toward net-zero homes, including, according to NIST. (EcoHome)
